Systems and methods of improving or increasing information concerning, particularly, runway conditions available to pilots of landing aircraft

• US 8,738,201 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation (The Zodiac Group)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation (The Zodiac Group)
• Inventors: Edwards, Daniel J., Mahal, Peter T., Slimko, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALHARBI, ADAM MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US13/491,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0078 for monitoring traffic from the aircraft radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

Addressed are systems and methods for providing to pilots of landing aircraft real-time (or near real-time) information concerning runway conditions and aircraft-stopping performance to be encountered upon landing. The systems and methods contemplate using more objective data than utilized at present and providing the information in automated manner. Information may be obtained by using conventional ground-based runway friction testers or, advantageously, by using air-based equipment such as (but not limited to) unmanned aerospace vehicles (UAVs).

Claims

1. A method of providing runway-related information to an operator of an aircraft A approaching a runway for landing or take-off, such runway-related information being generated in connection with travel of another aircraft B along at least a portion of the runway, the method comprising:

(a) electronically gathering runway-related information based on the travel of aircraft B along at least the portion of the runway, the runway-related information comprising (i) brake pressure commanded by an operator of aircraft B and (ii) brake pressure delivered to the brakes after anti-skid control computer calculations are performed on-board aircraft B; and

(b) transmitting, within thirty minutes after aircraft B travels along at least the portion of the runway, at least some of the gathered runway-related information relating to commanded and delivered brake pressures to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator for the purpose of deciding whether to land on or take-off from the runway.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the act of transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator occurs while aircraft A is airborne.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the act of transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator occurs while aircraft A is approaching the runway for landing.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which at least some of the gathered runway-related information is recorded on-board aircraft B.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which the operator of aircraft B is a human pilot on-board aircraft B.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which aircraft B is unmanned.

17. A method according to claim 1 in which the act of electronically gathering runway-related information comprises gathering ground roll distance of aircraft B along the runway.

18. A method according to claim 17 further comprising transmitting to aircraft A comparative information relating to the ground roll distance of aircraft B and a nominal ground roll value for the type of aircraft B on a dry runway.

19. A method according to claim 1 in which the act of transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator comprises transmitting to aircraft A the type of aircraft B.

20. A method according to claim 1 further comprising also transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information to at least one organization selected from the group consisting of:

air traffic controllers, the Federal Aviation Administration, airlines, and airport authorities.

7. A system for providing runway-related information to an operator of an aircraft A approaching a runway for landing or take-off, such runway-related information being generated in connection with travel of another aircraft B along at least a portion of the runway, the system comprising:

(a) means for electronically gathering runway-related information based on the travel of aircraft B along at least the portion of the runway, the runway-related information comprising (i) brake pressure commanded by an operator of aircraft B and (ii) brake pressure delivered to the brakes after anti-skid control computer calculations are performed on-board aircraft B; and

(b) means for transmitting, within thirty minutes after aircraft B travels along at least the portion of the runway, at least some of the gathered runway-related information relating to commanded and delivered brake pressures to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator for the purpose of deciding whether to land on or take-off from the runway.

8. A system according to claim 7 in which the means for transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator comprises means for transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information while aircraft A is airborne.

9. A system according to claim 8 in which the means for transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information to aircraft A for evaluation by the operator comprises means for transmitting at least some of the gathered runway-related information while aircraft A is approaching the runway for landing.

10. A system according to claim 7 in which at least some of the gathered runway-related information is recorded on-board aircraft B.

11. A system according to claim 7 in which the operator of aircraft B is a human pilot on-board aircraft B.

12. A system according to claim 7 in which aircraft B is unmanned.

13. A method of providing surface-related information to an operator of a first vehicle approaching a surface for purposes of travel, comprising:

(a) causing a second vehicle, of the same type as the first vehicle, to travel along at least a portion of the surface;

(b) electronically gathering surface-related information based on the travel of the second vehicle along at least a portion of the surface, the surface-related information comprising (i) brake pressure commanded by an operator of the second vehicle and (ii) brake pressure delivered to the brakes after anti-skid control computer calculations are performed on-board the second vehicle; and

(c) transmitting, within thirty minutes after the second vehicle travels along at least the portion of the surface, at least some of the surface-related information relating to commanded and delivered brake pressures to the first vehicle for evaluation by the operator of the first vehicle for the purpose of deciding whether to travel along the surface.

14. A method according to claim 13 in which the first and second vehicles are ground-based motor vehicles and the surface is a roadway.

15. A method according to claim 13 in which the first and second vehicles are trains and the surface comprises a railway.

16. A method according to claim 13 in which the first and second vehicles are boats and the surface comprises a waterway.

21. A method of providing runway-related information to an operator of an aircraft, comprising:

(a) electronically gathering, on-board a landing aircraft, information relevant to braking effectiveness of the landing aircraft along a runway, such information including deceleration rates of the landing aircraft;

(b) electronically processing at least some of the braking-effectiveness information including at least some of the deceleration rates, at least some of the electronic processing (i) occurring on-board the landing aircraft and (ii) comprising computing an anticipated ground roll distance for the landing aircraft; and

(c) transmitting, within thirty minutes after the landing aircraft travels along at least the portion of the runway, at least some of the electronically-processed information to an airborne aircraft approaching the runway for landing.