Flight deck display systems and methods for generating cockpit displays including dynamically-adjusted usable runway length symbology

• US 9,573,698 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: He, Gang
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/820,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/08 optical
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• 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 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

Flight deck display systems and methods for generating cockpit displays including dynamically-adjustable runway length symbology are provided. In one embodiment, the flight deck display system includes a display device to which a controller is operably coupled. A cockpit display, such as a primary fight display, is generated on the display device. The cockpit display is generated to include a runway graphic and a usable runway end marker. During operation of the display system, the controller receives runway usage restriction data identifying any currently restricted sections of a runway approached for usage by the aircraft. The controller further determines a dynamically-adjusted usable runway length as a function of the runway usage restriction data and then adjusts the position of the usable runway end marker, as generated on the cockpit display, along the length of the runway graphic in accordance with the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length.

Claims

1. A flight deck display system for deployment onboard an aircraft, the flight deck display system comprising:

a display device on which a cockpit display is generated including a runway graphic representative of a runway approached for usage by the aircraft and including a usable runway end marker; and

a controller operably coupled to the display device and configured to;

determine a dynamically-adjusted usable runway length as a function of runway usage restriction data identifying a restricted section of the runway approached for usage by the aircraft; and

adjust a position of the usable runway end marker, as generated on the cockpit display, along a length of the runway graphic in accordance with the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length.

2. The flight deck display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the cockpit display to include a restricted section graphic overlaying a portion of the runway graphic corresponding to the restricted section.

3. The flight deck display system of claim 2 wherein the controller generates the restricted section graphic as a shaded region of the runway graphic.

4. The flight deck display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the cockpit display to include countdown markers positioned at predetermined intervals alongside the runway graphic, the countdown markers indicating a distance to the usable runway end marker as adjusted in accordance with the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length.

5. The flight deck display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to selectively produce caution and warning alerts on the cockpit display by generating at least the usable runway end marker in caution and warning formats, respectively.

6. The flight deck display system of claim 5 further comprising a Runway Awareness and Advisory System coupled to the controller, the controller selectively generating the caution and warning alerts in accordance with data received from the Runway Awareness and Advisory System.

7. The flight deck display system of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to:

generate the caution alert when a runway length required by the aircraft for a runway flight phase exceeds the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length by an amount less than a predetermined buffer distance; and

generate the warning alert when the runway length required by the aircraft for the runway flight phase is less than the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length.

8. The flight deck display system of claim 1 further comprising a datalink coupled to the controller, the controller configured to receive the runway usage restriction data from a remote reporting source via the datalink.

9. The flight deck display system of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to extract the runway usage restriction data from a digital Notice to Airmen received via over datalink.

10. A flight deck display system for deployment onboard an aircraft, the flight deck display system comprising:

a display device on which a Primary Flight Display (PFD) is generated including a runway graphic representative of a runway approached for usage by the aircraft; and

a controller operably coupled to the display device, the controller configured to;

receive runway usage restriction data identifying a currently restricted section of the runway approached for usage by the aircraft, produce a restricted section graphic visually identifying a portion of the runway graphic corresponding to the currently restricted section of the runway, the restricted section graphic comprising a shaded region of the runway graphic.

11. The flight deck display system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the PFD to include countdown markers positioned at predetermined intervals alongside the runway graphic.

12. The flight deck display system of claim 10 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a current usable runway length as a function of the runway usage restriction data; and

generate a usable runway end marker visually identifying a location along the runway at which the current usable runway length ends.

13. The flight deck display system of claim 12 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the usable runway end marker in a predetermined informational color and the restricted section graphic in a predetermined caution color when the current usable runway length exceeds by a required runway length by an amount equal to or greater than a predetermined buffer distance.

14. The flight deck display system of claim 13 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the usable runway end marker and the restricted section graphic in a predetermined caution color when the required runway length exceeds the current usable runway length by an amount less than the predetermined buffer distance.

15. The flight deck display system of claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the usable runway end marker and the restricted section graphic in a predetermined warning color when the required runway length is less than the current usable runway length.

16. A method carried-out by a flight deck display system of an aircraft, the flight deck display system including a controller and a display device operably coupled to the controller, the method comprising:

at the controller, receiving runway usage restriction data identifying a restricted section of a runway approached for usage by the aircraft;

at the controller, determining a dynamically-adjusted usable runway length as a function of the runway usage restriction data; and

on the display device, generating a runway graphic and a usable runway end marker such that a position of the usable runway end marker along a length of the runway graphic visually identifies the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

at the controller,

generating a restricted section graphic on the display device overlaying a portion of the runway graphic corresponding to the restricted section of the runway.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising varying an appearance of the usable runway end marker and the restricted section graphic to generate a visual alert on the display device.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising generating countdown markers on the display device at predetermined intervals alongside the runway graphic, the countdown markers indicating a distance to the usable runway end marker as adjusted in accordance with the dynamically-adjusted usable runway length.