Systems and methods for alerting aircraft crew members of a runway assignment for an aircraft takeoff sequence

• US 8,812,223 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Durham, Billy J., Smith, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Charles J
• Application Number:
  US11/656,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,765 Days
• Field of Search: 701/15, 701/120, 340/959, 340/961, 340/972, 342/456
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

System and methods are provided alerting an aircraft crew member of a runway assignment for an aircraft takeoff sequence from a runway of an airport having a plurality of runways. In an embodiment, the method includes transmitting data comprising data relating to the runway assignment and data relating to an open status or a closed status for each airport runway to an aircraft data receiver, and transmitting an audio signal indicating the runway assignment to an aircraft audio receiver. In another embodiment, the method includes receiving an audio signal indicating the runway assignment from a control tower audio transmitter, receiving data comprising data relating to the runway assignment and data relating to an open status or a closed status of each of the airport runways from a control tower data transmitter, processing the received data, and displaying the received data relating to the runway assignment on a display.

Claims

1. A system for alerting an aircraft crew member about a runway assignment transmitted by an air traffic control (ATC) authority for an aircraft takeoff sequence from a runway of an airport having a plurality of runways, the system configured to be disposed within the aircraft, comprising:

a processor configured to receive the runway assignment from the ATC authority and data relating to an open status or a closed status of each runway of the plurality of runways and operable, in response thereto, to supply one or more image rendering display commands.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises a user interface in operative communication with the processor, the user interface configured to receive a user input indicating receipt of the runway assignment; and

the processor is further configured to receive the user input from the user interface and, in response thereto, to transmit the user input indication to a receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system further comprises aircraft position sensors in operative communication with the processor, aircraft position sensors configured to sense data relating to a real-time location of the aircraft; and

a wheel lock mechanism configured to engage when an incorrect aircraft position is determined, wherein

the processor is further configured to receive the sensed data from the aircraft position sensors, to receive data related to runway location of the assigned runway, and to compare the sensed data and the runway location data to determine a correct aircraft position or an incorrect aircraft position and engages the wheel lock mechanism when an incorrect aircraft position is determined.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the system further comprises an alert system in operative communication with the processor; and

the processor is further configured to supply alert commands to the alert system when an incorrect aircraft position is determined.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the processor is further configured to determine whether the assigned runway is operational, based, in part, on the data relating to the open status or closed status of each runway.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the processor is further configured to supply alert commands to the alert system when a closed status of the assigned runway is determined.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a display device coupled to receive the image rendering display commands and operable, in response thereto, to (i) render an image of the data relating to the runway assignment and (ii) render an image of the data relating to the open status or the closed status of the runway of the runway assignment.