SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING REQUIRED NAVIGATIONAL PERFORMANCE CORRIDOR ON AIRCRAFT MAP DISPLAY

• US 20080309518A1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Aung, Yan L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,830,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/979
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A method is provided for indicating the boundaries of a required navigational performance (RNP) corridor on an aircraft'"'"'s map display. The method includes the steps of producing an aircraft leg segment symbol on the map display, establishing an RNP value, and scaling the RNP value to the map display field of view. The method further includes the step of generating an RNP corridor boundary graphic on the map display offset from the aircraft leg segment symbol by the scaled RNP value.

Claims

1. A method for indicating the boundaries of a required navigational performance (RNP) corridor on an aircraft'"'"'s map display, the method comprising:

producing an aircraft leg segment symbol on the map display;

establishing an RNP value;

scaling the RNP value to the map display field of view (FOV); and

generating an RNP corridor boundary graphic on the map display offset from the aircraft leg segment symbol by the scaled RNP value.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the RNP corridor boundary graphic comprises at least one line.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the RNP corridor boundary graphic comprises first and second dashed lines.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of establishing an RNP value comprises receiving user input designating a desired RNP value.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of establishing an RNP value comprises wirelessly receiving an assigned RNP value from an air traffic controller.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

estimating the aircraft'"'"'s position; and

generating an alert signal if the aircraft'"'"'s estimated position is outside of the RNP corridor.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of generating an alert signal comprises producing a visual alert on the map display.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of producing a visual alert comprises alerting the color of the RNP corridor boundary graphic.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising;

projecting the aircraft'"'"'s flight path; and

generating an alert signal if the aircraft'"'"'s projected flight path breaches an RNP corridor boundary.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of generating an alert signal comprises producing a visual alert on the map display.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of producing a visual alert on the map display comprises alerting the color of the RNP corridor boundary graphic.

12. A method according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting the offset between the aircraft leg segment symbol and the RNP corridor boundary graphic in accordance with a change in the map display FOV.

13. A method according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting the offset between the aircraft leg segment symbol and the RNP corridor boundary graphic in accordance with change in RNP value.

14. A method according to claim 1 further comprising displaying a graphic on the map display indicative of the RNP value.

15. A program product, comprising:

an avionics display program adapted to;

generate a map display having a field of view (FOV) and including a leg segment symbol;

establish an RNP value;

scale the RNP value to the map display FOV; and

produce an RNP corridor boundary graphic on the map display separated from the leg segment symbol the scaled RNP value; and

computer-readable media bearing the avionics display program.

16. A program product according to claim 15 wherein the RNP corridor boundary graphic comprises at least one dashed line.

17. A program product according to claim 15 wherein avionics display program is further adapted to:

estimate the position of the aircraft; and

generate a first alert signal if the estimated position resides outside of the RNP corridor.

18. A program product according to claim 17 wherein the avionics display program is further adapted to:

project the flight path of the aircraft; and

generate a second alert signal if the projected flight path crosses over an RNP corridor boundary.

19. A program product according to claim 18 wherein at least one of the first alert signal and the second alert signal comprises an alteration in color of a graphic displayed on the map display.

20. An aircraft display system, comprising:

a monitor;

at least one data source; and

a processor coupled to the monitor and the at least one data source, the processor configured to generate on the monitor a map display including a leg segment symbol and RNP corridor boundary graphics, the RNP corridor boundary graphics separated from the leg segment symbol by a gap corresponding to the RNP value scaled to the field of view of the map display.