Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Douglas M McCormick

Benjamin M Helppi

Evie R Johnson

Jason A Myren

Christina M Martinez

Marc Ayala

A display interfacing system and an automated graphics system enable presentation of a second picture within a first picture of an avionics display. The first picture provides broad information pertaining to navigating an aircraft vehicle within a specified region. The broad information may include a flight plan map, and the specified region may be navigated using a VOR radial displayed on the flight plan map. The second picture provides clarifying information about an aspect of the first picture. Interaction with the second picture may also provide clarifying information about an aspect of the second picture.

Avionics picture-in-picture display

A system for monitoring the center of gravity of an aircraft includes receiving flight plan information regarding a flight plan of an aircraft indicative of planned events to occur during operation of the aircraft; predicting a center of gravity of the aircraft during operation of the aircraft based on the flight plan information; plotting a center of gravity curve based on the predicted center of gravity of the aircraft on a display, the center of gravity curve including a plurality of markers, each marker corresponding to one of the planned events, the location of each marker on the center of gravity curve indicating when during the operation of the aircraft the event is planned to occur, one of the events indicating an in-flight event; and updating the plotted center of gravity curve in real-time during operation of the aircraft based on an actual center of gravity of the aircraft.

Event depiction on center of gravity curve

A system and related methods for digital map enabled search pattern generation by a flight management system retrieves from a digital map a set of pattern points corresponding to a selected search pattern parameter, such as a coastline, boundary, lateral terrain feature, or manmade structure, and a designated search area. The flight management system generates a sequence of waypoints based on the set of pattern points and a variable search radius, the sequence of waypoints optimizing efficient coverage of the search pattern parameter. The flight management system generates a full search pattern based on the generated sequence of waypoints; the generated search pattern may be approved or evaluated by the FMS, or forwarded to a rerouter for modification according to terrain avoidance factors.

Digital map enabled boundary search pattern

Methods and systems for integration of symbology and flight planning information in a flight management system are disclosed. A method may include: receiving a portion of a flight plan from an auxiliary flight management system; receiving graphical data for the portion of the flight plan from the auxiliary flight management system; integrating the portion of the flight plan received from the auxiliary flight management system into at least one additional portion of the flight plan managed by a primary flight management system to produce an integrated flight plan; and displaying the integrated flight plan to a user, wherein the portion of the flight plan received from the auxiliary flight management system is displayed at least partially based on the graphical data for the portion of the flight plan received from the auxiliary flight management system.

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North Liberty, IA, United States of America

Douglas M McCormick