Sundstrand Data Control, Inc.

Sundstrand Corporation

Honeywell International Inc.

Alliedsignal Inc.

Bateman, Charles D.

Muller, Hans R.

Glover, John H.

Charles D Bateman

Hans R Muller

Yasuo Ishihara

Michael M Grove

Kevin J Conner

Steve C Johnson

Steven C Johnson

Ruy C Brandao

J Howard Glover

John Howard Glover

John Hruby

Robert A Champion

Randall B Sprague

R Bruce Butenko

Wallace E Ward

David Bryan Alexander Fleming

Lyle J Noland

John H Gover

Frank Joseph Brem

Brian E Pulk

John H Glover

C Johnson Steven

A method and system are provided for generating a low airspeed warning in an aircraft. This method creates a scale factor that is a factor of engine thrust and aircraft altitude. A low airspeed threshold is determined that varies according to the aircraft altitude with respect to a predetermined altitude band and the engine thrust with respect to a predetermined engine thrust band. A low airspeed alert is generated in response to the determination of the low airspeed threshold. This method provides a pilot with earlier knowledge of low airspeed conditions when the aircraft is in a target altitude band, increasing the pilot's response time and thereby enhancing overall aircraft safety.

System and method for improved low airspeed warning

Systems and methods for improving the presentation of wake turbulence information. A processor located on an ownship receives position, heading and type information of another aircraft and position and heading information of the ownship. The processor determines if a possible wake condition exists from the other aircraft based on at least a portion of the received information and at least one predefined threshold and generates a wake icon if a wake condition is determined to exist. The wake condition exists when the ownship's altitude is below a first threshold altitude and above a second threshold altitude, wherein the first and second threshold altitudes are based on the other aircraft's altitude.

Systems and methods for presentation of probable wake turbulence

Methods and systems for providing a depressurization alert. An example method includes receiving a cabin depressurization discrete signal, determining if the cabin depressurization discrete signal is valid, and issuing a cabin depressurization alert, if the cabin depressurization discrete signal was determined to be valid. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a time delay is executed before the receiving, determining, and issuing steps are repeated. The cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if uncorrected pressure is not greater than a predefined altitude. The uncorrected pressure is a raw pressure value produced by a Pitot-Static system. Also, the cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if the aircraft's altitude above an intended runway is not greater than a first predefined value. Additionally, the cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if an aircraft's altitude above terrain is not greater than a second predefined value.

Systems and methods for intelligent alerting for cabin altitude depressurization

Systems and methods for controlling activation of a look-ahead function of a terrain alert and warning system. The system receives rate of climb and aircraft speed information, compares the rate of climb and aircraft speed information to a predefined threshold, and deactivates a look-ahead function based on the comparison.

Systems and methods for reducing nuisance alerts for helicopter enhanced ground proximity warning systems

A processor, software code, and a method for generating warning indicating that flaps are not suitably in a take-off position. A first component is configured to receive a first signal indicative of one of a group of flaps positions, the group including a take-off position. A second component is configured to receive a second signal indicative of an aircraft position. A third component is configured to compare the aircraft position to the contents of a database and to, by the comparison, determine whether the aircraft position is within a runway perimeter. A fourth component is configured to generate an alarm when the aircraft is within the runway perimeter and the flaps position is not the take-off position.

EGPWS flap position enhancement

Methods and systems for performing auto-recovery for an aircraft. An example system includes position and information systems, an automatic flight control system, a database, and a processor. The database includes terrain data, airport data, obstacle data, and protected airspace data. The processor determines if one of a caution alert or a warning alert exists based on data stored in the database and information received from the position and information systems. Auto-recovery instructions are generated and sent to the automatic flight control system if no positive flight control input has been performed at time of expiration of a waiting period. Auto-recovery instructions are generated based on an analysis of two or more auto-recovery routes. The system does not perform auto-recovery if components of the system fail to meet a predefined validity or integrity level.

Aircraft autorecovery systems and methods

A system and method for downlinking weather data, generated by existing weather and data sensors, to a ground station. The ground station utilizes data from multiple aircraft to form refined weather information, and uplinks the refined weather information to the aircraft. The refined weather information is stored at the aircraft and picture generating equipment, such as an existing onboard ground proximity terrain picture and symbol generator, generates pictorial information depicting weather. The pictorial information is displayed, for example by an existing EFIS or weather radar display, in the form of polygons.

Aircraft weather information system

A low airspeed alerting system for alerting the pilot of an aircraft of insufficient airspeed during a landing monitors various readily available signals representative of flight parameters of an aircraft such as pitch angle, vertical speed and true airspeed and advises the pilot when the airspeed of the aircraft is approaching an airspeed (kinetic energy) that is too low with respect to the ground to maintain the aircraft flying along the desired flight path without stalling, or without action by the pilot in time to recover.

Independent low airspeed alert

Performance of an aircraft ground proximity warning system can be improved, especially where the performance of the aircraft itself has been degraded by a factor such as wind shear, by extending Mode 1 and Mode 3 warning envelopes down to within five feet of the ground. Additional improvements in warnings can be made by monitoring flight path angle, stall margin, angle of attack and deceleration profile, when the aircraft is close to the ground.

Ground proximity warning system for use with aircraft having egraded

A ground proximity warning system monitors the flight path angle or barometric or inertially derived descent rate of the aircraft and modulates the glide slope alerting function in accordance with flight path angle or descent rate when the aircraft is not descending rapidly even though it is below the glide slope in order to reduce nuisance warnings without compromising system sensitivity. Alternatively, the repetition rate of the alert may be varied as a function of the flight path angle or descent rate to provide less frequent alerts when the aircraft is not descending rapidly.

Ground proximity warning instrument using flight path modulation of

A ground proximity warning system monitors the descent rate of an aircraft and generates a warning if the descent rate is excessive for the current altitude above ground of the aircraft according to a predetermined relationship. The predetermined relationship is altered as a function of the deviation of the aircraft from the glidescope to generate the warning earlier if the aircraft is below the glidescope and later if the aircraft is above the glidescope. The warning is given as a specific aural message indicating the specific flight parameters of the aircraft.

Ground proximity warning instrument utilizing glideslope modulation of

An instrument (10) is disclosed for an aircraft having a windshear warning system to vary the threshold alarm setting as a function of a thermodynamic property of the air and as a function of local geographic and seasonal conditions. Specifically, a function generator 16 and other circuitry is disclosed. The output from the function generator 16 and other circuitry is then added to a fixed threshold acceleraton signal to produce a threshold alarm signal which has a value that is a function of the temperature of the air, in a basic embodiment.

Predictive windshear warning instrument

A wind shear warning system monitors the flight path of an aircraft and wind shear in the vicinity of the aircraft and generates an advisory or cautionary message for the pilot based both on the magnitude of the wind shear and the flight path of the aircraft. When the aircraft is flying a normal flight path, a wind shear warning is generated only when relatively high negative wind shears are present. If the flight path of the aircraft is not normal, for example, if the aircraft is below the glide slope or descending too rapidly, a cautionary alert is given at lower values of wind shear. The alert or warning is selected to provide the pilot with information defining the nature of the hazard or potential hazard being encountered.

Flight path responsive aircraft wind shear alerting and warning system

A ground proximity warning system is disclosed which can recognize when an aircraft is on a final approach to an airport without utilizing a landing flap signal input. Airports together with the surrounding terrain topography are modeled by a simple geometric shape, such as, an inverted truncated cone, and stored on-board the aircraft. The system uses navigational data to determine the distance of the aircraft from the geometric model. Once the aircraft is determined to be within the area defined by the geometric model, the system provides an enabling envelope indicative that the aircraft is on a final approach for enabling various ground proximity warning systems. Also disclosed is a system for altering the enabling envelope as a function of the aircraft's alignment with a particular runway.

Ground proximity approach warning system without landing flap input

An instrument (10) is disclosed for an aircraft having a windshear warning system to vary the threshold alarm setting as a function of a thermodynamic property of the air and as a function of local geographic and seasonal conditions. Specifically, a function generator 16 and other circuitry is disclosed. The output from the function generator 16 and other circuitry is then added to a fixed threshold acceleration signal to produce a threshold alarm signal which has a value that is a function of the temperature of the air, in a basic embodiment.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Charles D Bateman