Valuation and simulation of required navigation performance

• US 8,543,258 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Halvorson, James O., Syblon, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US11/924,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/3, 701/465, 701/301, 701/121, 701/204, 700/213, 702/6, 702/8
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A method for illustrating potential benefits resulting from revised navigation procedures to a customer is described. The method includes preparing a model for a revised navigation procedure, determining a landing probability for both an existing minimum separation procedure and a minimum separation determined utilizing the revised navigation procedure, calculating a benefit associated with a difference in the landing probabilities, and validating the revised navigation procedures through demonstration and use of the revised navigation procedure model on a computer-based flight simulation program.

Claims

1. A computer system for valuation and simulation of revised navigation procedures, said computer system comprising:

at least one database comprising required navigation performance data relating to flight operations and customer airline operation;

a modeling program, said modeling program configured to build an aerospace value model from said at least one database of required navigation performance data;

a software program configured to;

utilize the aerospace value model to generate at least one revised navigation procedure, and at least one cost savings item associated with the revised navigation procedure; and

monitor the revised navigation procedure and to alert deviation of the revised navigation procedure from the required navigation performance data;

a flight simulation program operable to demonstrate the revised navigation procedure for illustration of the at least one cost savings item; and

a user interface configured to display outputs of said flight simulation program.

2. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said user interface is operable to adjust said software program for specific airline requirements.

3. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein the flight operations include at least one of aircraft takeoff, aircraft landing, and airport throughput.

4. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said database of required navigation performance data comprises at least one of published minima, published charts, official airline guide (OAG) schedules, navigation databases, and weather data.

5. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said modeling program is configured to couple required navigation performance data relating to flight operations with customer airline operation data to calculate a minima value.

6. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said software program is configured to utilize a terminal area route generation and traffic simulation tool to design the at least one revised navigation procedure.

7. A computer system according to claim 6 wherein to determine the at least one cost savings item associated with the revised navigation procedures, said software program is configured to determine at least one of a time and fuel savings associated with the at least one revised navigation procedure.

8. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said software program is configured to utilize the at least one revised navigation procedure in a total airspace and airport modeling program to calculate additional airport capacity improvements that result from the at least one revised navigation procedure.

9. A computer system according to claim 8 where the capacity improvements are a function of the existing airport arrival and departure schedule and simulated with before and after approaches to measure time and capacity improvements.

10. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said flight simulation program is operable by a user, through said user interface, to determine and experience changes in crew workload due to the at least one revised navigation procedure.

11. A computer system according to claim 1 wherein said software program is configured to:

determine a landing probability for both an existing minimum separation procedure and a minimum separation determined utilizing the revised navigation procedure; and

calculate the at least one cost savings based on a probability improvement, the probability improvement being a difference in the landing probabilities.

12. A computer system according to claim 11 wherein said software program is configured to:

multiply the probability improvement by a frequency of scheduled landings; and

multiply the cost of an irregular landing operation with a number of anticipated irregular landing operations for a given time period based on the landing probability utilizing the revised navigation procedure; and

generate a report of cost savings resulting from an implementation of the revised navigation procedure.

13. A computer system according to claim 12 wherein said software program is configured to multiply the product of the probability improvement and frequency of scheduled landings by an outage percentage for an instrument landing system.

14. A computer system for valuation and simulation of revised navigation procedures, said computer system comprising:

at least one database comprising required navigation performance data relating to flight operations and customer airline operation;

a modeling program, said modeling program configured to build an aerospace value model from said at least one database of required navigation performance data;

a software program configured to;

utilize the aerospace value model to generate at least one revised navigation procedure, and at least one cost savings item associated with the revised navigation procedure;

determine a landing probability for both an existing minimum separation procedure and a minimum separation determined utilizing the revised navigation procedure; and

calculate the at least one cost savings based on a probability improvement, the probability improvement being a difference in the landing probabilities;

a flight simulation program operable to demonstrate the revised navigation procedure for illustration of the at least one cost savings item; and

a user interface configured to display outputs of said flight simulation program.