Ground based system and methods for providing multiple flightplan re-plan scenarios to a pilot during flight

• US 9,847,031 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Agarwal, Anand, Brabham, David Allen, Redner, Trip, Payasam, SatyaBhaskar
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US14/800,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting re-routing options to a plurality of in-flight aircraft in accordance with preconfigured pilot preferences. The apparatus comprises a data store module containing data sets against which the pilot preferences are evaluated during flight, including weather, airspace and flight restrictions, ground delay programs, and air traffic information. The apparatus further includes a flight path module containing route and position information for each aircraft. An incursion alert processing module evaluates the flight path, data store, and pilot preferences and generates incursion alerts which are transmitted to each aircraft during flight. Upon receipt of an incursion alert or, alternatively, independent of an incursion alert, the pilot may request re-routing options. Once received and reviewed, the pilot selects the optimum re-routing option, and an associated micro flight plan is uplinked and loaded into the FMS (Flight Management System).

Claims

1. A method of re-routing an aircraft during flight, comprising:

a processor configured for determining an existence of an in-flight incursion requiring a work around;

the processor configured for receiving a re-routing request from the aircraft;

the processor configured for computing re-routing options based on at least two of weather, air and ground traffic, aircraft fuel level, wind speed and direction, turbulence, electrical and mechanical problems with the aircraft, airspace restrictions, and diversion, the processor further configured for computing the re-routing options based on a set of pilot defined bounds associated with a pilot of the aircraft, and for generating the re-routing options such that the re-routing options are within the set of pilot defined bounds;

the processor configured for transmitting “

N”

number of the re-routing options to the aircraft;

the processor configured for receiving a selection, from the aircraft, of a unique one of the re-routing options; and

the processor configured for uplinking a micro flight plan corresponding to the selected re-routing option to an on-board flight management system (FMS) of the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the re-routing options comprises that the processor is configured for uplinking the re-routing options to the aircraft via an avionics Datalink.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein computing re-routing options further comprises that the processor is configured for generating a corresponding micro flight plan for each re-routing option.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein N=1-10.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein N=3.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising that the processor is configured for negotiating at least one re-routing option with an external authority.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising that the processor is configured for generating additional re-routing options as a result of said negotiating.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving the selection of the unique one of the re-routing options, the processor is configured for unlinking a corresponding micro flight plan to the aircraft and for loading said micro flight plan into the on-board flight management system (FMS).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the existence of the in-flight incursion comprises that the processor is configured for automatically generating an incursion alert based on the determination of the in-flight incursion requiring a work around.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the existence of the in-flight incursion further comprises the processor that is configured for determining the existence of the in-flight incursion based on a pilot request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said pilot request comprises altering at least one of air speed, direction, and altitude.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said pilot request is based on at least one of:

i) a ground based message received by the aircraft;

ii) an unexpected localized change in at least one of weather, traffic, fuel, wind, turbulence, aircraft electrical and mechanical problems, air space restrictions, diversion; and

iii) pilot desire to change speed, heading, or altitude.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the in-flight incursion is based on schedule adherence.

14. A method of re-routing an aircraft during flight, comprising:

a processor configured for determining an in-flight incursion based on a flight path of said aircraft that requires a work around;

the processor configured for generating an incursion alert based on the determination;

the processor configured for receiving a re-routing request from said aircraft based on said incursion alert;

the processor configured for computing re-routing options based on at least two of weather, air and ground traffic, aircraft fuel level, wind speed and direction, turbulence, electrical and mechanical problems with the aircraft, airspace restrictions, and diversion, said re-routing options associated with the flight path of said aircraft, the processor further configured for computing the re-routing options based on a set of pilot defined bounds associated with a pilot of the aircraft, the set of pilot defined bounds including parameters for air speed, direction and altitude, and for generating the re-routing options such that the re-routing options are within the set of pilot defined bounds;

the processor configured for transmitting “

N”

number of the re-routing options to the aircraft;

the processor configured for receiving a selection, from the aircraft, of a unique one of the re-routing options; and

the processor configured for unlinking a micro flight plan corresponding to the selected re-routing option to an on-board flight management system (FMS) and for loading said micro flight plan into said on-board flight management system (FMS) of said aircraft.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein computing the re-routing options further comprises that the processor is configured for generating a corresponding micro flight plan for each of the re-routing options.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured for determining the in-flight incursion based on a pilot request.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said pilot request comprises altering at least one of the air speed, the direction, and the altitude.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining the in-flight incursion is based on schedule adherence.