Apparatus and method for closing flight plans and locating aircraft
DCFirst Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring a status and location of an aircraft, comprising:
- a receiver attached to an aircraft for receiving a positioning signal from each of a plurality of transmitters located at separate known locations;
a switch located on the aircraft and indicating a status of the aircraft;
a controller operatively connected to the receiver and the switch for determining the location of the aircraft based upon the positioning signals, said controller detecting the status of the aircraft by sensing the switch;
a communicator operatively connected to the controller for communicating a signal to the air traffic control center to report the status and location of the aircraft in response to the switch.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method of canceling a flight plan of an aircraft to facilitate release of an IFR airspace to other aircraft and for communicating the location of a downed aircraft during emergencies. A controller receives and analyzes positioning signals transmitted from know locations to determine the location of the aircraft periodically. Upon arrival of the aircraft at its destination, the controller calls the air traffic controllers to cancel the flight plan. In the event of an emergency, the controller calls the air traffic control center to report the emergency and the location of the aircraft with high accuracy to improve search and rescue operations.
219 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring a status and location of an aircraft, comprising:
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a receiver attached to an aircraft for receiving a positioning signal from each of a plurality of transmitters located at separate known locations; a switch located on the aircraft and indicating a status of the aircraft; a controller operatively connected to the receiver and the switch for determining the location of the aircraft based upon the positioning signals, said controller detecting the status of the aircraft by sensing the switch; a communicator operatively connected to the controller for communicating a signal to the air traffic control center to report the status and location of the aircraft in response to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring a status and location of an aircraft, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving at the aircraft a positioning signal from each of a plurality of transmitters positioned at separate known locations; b) determining a current location of the aircraft based upon the received positioning signals; c) sensing a switch, the switch located on the aircraft and indicating the status of the aircraft; d) communicating a signal from the aircraft to a central station to report the status and the location of the aircraft, in response to said step of sensing the switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification