Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems, LLC

Richard Darrell Ridenour, Ii

Charles Castel Manberg

Cyro Allen Stone

Steven Gregory Scott

Stacey R Rowlan

Zachary R Reynolds

Gregory Theodore Stayton

James Peter Redmond

Peter J Bobrowitz

Robert G Brewer

Christopher W Lowe

There are provided systems and methods for providing a barometric altitude monitor that assist pilots by providing alerts when a barometric altitude of the ownship aircraft is may be incorrect. Various embodiments of the present invention determine whether significant errors in barometric altitude occur though comparisons to alternate altitude information sources. Through aspects of the present invention, errors arising from manual entry of barometric pressure information by a pilot may be identified before safety issues arise, thus helping to prevent events such as controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).

Systems and methods for providing a barometric altitude monitor

There are provided systems and methods for enhancing wake turbulence situational awareness in the cockpit of an aircraft. In one aspect, transmissions from a lead aircraft are received and stored by a trailing aircraft to allow the trailing aircraft to create a history of the lead aircraft's position for the purposes of, among other things, determining the relative positioning of the lead and the trailing aircraft (or trailing aircraft's) flight paths and relative altitudes. From this determination, better situational information can be displayed to the flight crew to aid in wake turbulence avoidance.

Systems and methods for providing wake situational awareness displays

A method according to the present invention includes calculating, based on a reported position of a vehicle, a probability that an actual position of the vehicle is within a region of interest. The method further includes determining whether a threat of a collision exists between the vehicle and an object based on the probability that the actual position of the vehicle is within the region of interest and a reported position of the object. The method further includes generating an alert if it is determined a threat of a collision exists between the vehicle and the object.

Systems and methods for conflict detection using position uncertainty

Various navigation and other instrumentation systems may benefit from appropriate methods for display of traffic. For example, certain avionics systems may benefit from systems and methods for providing an ADS-B In display and control system. A system can include a traffic computer, such as a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) computer. The system can also include a TCAS traffic display, the traffic computer is configured to display Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In information on the TCAS traffic display. Optionally, the system can further include a graphical ADS-B In Guidance Display (AGD) operationally connected to the traffic computer. The system can additionally include a Multi-Purpose Control Display Unit (MCDU) operationally connected to the traffic computer. The TCAS traffic display and MCDU, and optionally the graphical AGD, can be configured to substitute for a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI).

Systems and methods for providing an ADS-B in display and control system

A method according to an aspect of the present invention includes determining if terrain presents a hazard to an aircraft based on the current position of the aircraft and the intended flight plan for the aircraft and providing an alert if it is determined that the terrain presents a hazard to the aircraft. The method may be employed in any situation to achieve any result, such as when the aircraft is in a low-RNP environment to prevent nuisance terrain alerts.

Systems and methods for terrain warning suppression using flight plan information

A terrain warning system includes an indicator to inform a pilot of a proposed degree of flight parameters for safely clearing terrain. An aural message may identify a vertical speed that may be used to safely traverse terrain to the pilot. A visual indicator on a display informs the pilot of a vertical speed or climb angle to traverse terrain. The display may be a vertical speed indicator also capable of displaying traffic advisories.

Display for terrain avoidance

Embodiments of the present invention relate to avionics systems, and more particularly, to collision avoidance systems. In one embodiment, a system is delineated comprising a plurality of detection zones for a plurality of aircraft and means for issuing a report based on one or more of the plurality of detection zones.

Systems and methods using multiple zones of detection as a function of accuracy

A system according to aspects of the present invention includes a processor, a user interface (including a display) in communication with the processor, and a memory in communication with the processor. The processor executes instructions stored in the memory to present a first symbol on the display of the user interface that indicates the bearing to an off-scale vehicle, and to present a second symbol on the display that indicates the path of travel of the off-scale vehicle. The present invention provides a more accurate representation of the bearing and track of off-scale traffic compared to conventional traffic display systems.

Systems and methods for displaying off screen traffic

Systems and methods are delineated that may provide for a system for use in a merging and spacing application for an aircraft. An exemplary system may comprise a TCAS and a processor for executing the merging and spacing application using ADS-B data and data received by the aircraft in response to an interrogation of another aircraft from the TCAS. In a disclosed embodiment, a lead aircraft responds to the TCAS interrogation from a following aircraft to provide EHS heading and/or speed of the lead aircraft to the following aircraft, which uses the received EHS data as well as ADS-B data to determine merging and spacing control parameters for the following aircraft.

Systems and methods for obtaining aircraft state data from multiple data links

There is presented a system and method for providing aircraft runway guidance. One delineated runway alert system for a host aircraft comprises: a processor for executing one or more instructions that implement one or more functions of the runway alert system; a data storage device including geographical runway information; a receiver for obtaining current location data of the host aircraft; an apparatus to provide a current heading of the host aircraft; a data entry device for receiving data indicating a desired runway; memory for storing the one or more instructions for execution by the processor to implement the one or more functions of the runway alert system to: receive the identity of the desired runway; provide an indicia of: the desired runway; and the position of the host aircraft in relation to the desired runway.

Systems and methods for providing aircraft runway guidance

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer programs, and apparatus for adjusting a speed target of an aircraft. In particular, the adjustment of the speed target of the aircraft may allow that aircraft to maintain merging and spacing constraints with respect to a leading aircraft. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the speed target of an aircraft may be adjusted by obtaining a speed target, obtaining own ship track data for the aircraft, obtaining lead ship track data for a leading aircraft, and calculating a speed target adjustment based on the speed target, the own ship track data, the lead ship track data and merging and spacing constraints.

Merging and spacing speed target calculation

Methods and systems are disclosed for preventing aircraft collisions with forward looking terrain avoidance (FLTA) functionality based on a terrain avoidance profile used to evaluate potential terrain threats based on the projected flight path of an aircraft in flight, and a clear terrain profile to determine whether the terrain threat has been cleared. If the terrain avoidance profile conflicts with terrain, a collision threat may exist whereby the pilot is notified and a terrain avoidance maneuver is executed. During the terrain avoidance maneuver the clear terrain profile extends in a direction substantially parallel with the horizon at or near the present altitude of the aircraft to check whether it is safe to return to the previous flight path angle or otherwise end the terrain-avoiding maneuver. When the clear terrain profile no longer conflicts with the terrain threat, a terrain clear indicator is then issued to the pilot.

Aircraft terrain warning systems and methods

A system, according to various aspects of the present invention, provides a presentation to a hazard display. The system includes a memory having surveillance data and a processor. The processor updates an image in accordance with the surveillance data to provide an updated image. The processor also prepares a presentation in accordance with the updated image. The processor further provides the presentation to a hazard display. At least one of updating, preparing, and providing utilize a first scan mode for a hazardous region of the presentation and a second scan mode for a nonhazardous region of the presentation.

Growing community of inventors

Glendale, AZ, United States of America

Richard Darrell Ridenour, Ii