Honeywell International Inc.

Other

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Yasuo Ishihara

Steve C Johnson

Kevin J Conner

Scott Richard Gremmert

Ratan Khatwa

Steven C Johnson

John J Poe

James John Corcoran, Iii

Charles D Bateman

Gary Ostrom

Glen Burlingame

Esko Mannisto

James Ehlers

Thea Lynn Feyereisen

C Don Bateman

Supratik Gon

Gang He

Ivan Sandy Wyatt

James Alexander Nicholls

Dereck B Clark

John Stokely

John Allan Morgan

Robert A Champion

Ray Berry

Margaret Wintermute

Gary A Ostrum

Steven Johnson

Charles Donald Bateman

Dereck Clark

Steve Johnson

Gary A Ostrom

Raymond J Berry

An avionic system for a rotorcraft includes a data source and an enhanced ground proximity warning system. The data source has terrain data and obstacle data stored therein. The enhanced ground proximity warning system can be selectively switched, by a pilot, to operate in either a normal mode or a desensitized mode. The enhanced ground proximity warning system receives flight data, retrieves terrain data and obstacle data from the data source, evaluates the retrieved terrain data and the obstacle data to determine variations in elevations of terrain and obstacles in predetermined area that is a predetermined distance ahead of the current position and along the flight path, and based at least in part on the determined variations, selectively generate a prompt that suggests that the pilot switch the ground proximity warning system to the desensitized mode.

System and method for suggesting switching operational modes of a ground proximity warning system

A system and method are provided for controlling operations of an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) disposed within an aircraft that is configured to selectively operate in both a helicopter mode and a fixed-wing mode. A processor processes one or more aircraft flight parameters to determine when the aircraft is operating in the helicopter mode and when the aircraft is operating in the fixed-wing mode. The EGPWS is commanded, via the processor, to operate as a helicopter EGPWS when the aircraft is operating in the helicopter mode, and is commanded, via the processor, to operate as a fixed-wing EGPWS when the aircraft is operating in the fixed-wing mode.

Enhanced ground proximity warning system that selectively operates in both a helicopter mode and a fixed-wing mode

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing an altitude parameter and a safety envelope for a designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the safety envelope.

Runway landing alert system and method

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing a Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAAS) envelope for the designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the RAAS envelope.

A system and method of shifting a premature descent protection envelope for an aircraft has been developed. First, a premature descent protection envelope (PDP) is determined including a first boundary at a first distance from the runway. Next, a nominal approach path is determined for approaching the runway and an approach path angle. Also, a flight path angle of the aircraft is determined. The first boundary is shifted in an upward direction from the runway in response to the aircraft being below the nominal approach path, and the flight path angle being greater than the nominal approach path angle.

System and method for modulating premature descent protection envelope

Alerting systems and methods for an enhanced approach monitor are provided. The system is configured to: determine a missed approach altitude (MAA), an intended configuration, and target approach speed, each being related to the intended approach procedure and aircraft specific data. At a decision point defined as a co-occurrence of (a) the RT distance is substantially equal to or less than a distance threshold, and (b) the RT altitude is substantially equal to the MAA, the system identifies go-around scenarios, such as when (i) the RT speed exceeds the target approach speed, or (ii) the RT configuration is not equal to the intended configuration, or (iii) an RT approach path angle exceeds the target angle. The system issues a go-around alert based on whether the aircraft can perform a go-around operation, as determined based on aircraft performance data and terrain data.

Systems and methods for an enhanced stable approach monitor

Systems and methods to provide alerts when a rotorcraft is in a low airspeed condition. During takeoff or go-around, an aural alert is provided to the pilot before the aircraft slows to less than the effective translational lift speed. The aural, visual, and/or tactile alert gets the pilot's attention to manage the aircraft's airspeed before it is too late in this critical flight phase.

Systems and methods for monitoring low speed of a rotorcraft

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting security threats during vehicle operations. For instance, retrieving a route plan for a route of a vehicle from a database of the vehicle; identifying either a portion of the route or a portion of the route plan as a security threat based on an analysis of the route plan; and in response to identifying the portion of the route or the portion of the route plan as the security threat, transmitting an alert of the security threat.

Systems and methods for detecting and alerting security threats in vehicles

A system and method are provided for modifying the position or shape of a premature descent protection envelope with regard to a runway when an aircraft making an approach to the runway is below the nominal approach path and has a flight path angle greater than the nominal approach path angle.

An enhanced runway awareness system and method directed to reducing audible alerts during runway selection is provided. The runway awareness system includes a navigation system, an audio system, and a control module. The control module receives and processes, from the navigation system, aircraft state data and runway position and location data. The control module determines that (a) the aircraft is approaching a first runway, and commands the audio system to emit an approach alert associated with (a); subsequent to commanding the audio system to emit the approach alert associated with (a), the control module prohibits the audio system from emitting an 'on runway' alert associated with (a) responsive to determining that (b) the aircraft is on the first runway.

Aircraft systems and methods for managing runway awareness and advisory system (RAAS) callouts

A method is provided for monitoring a landing approach of an aircraft. The method includes receiving instrument landing system (ILS) signals; determining a glideslope deviation from the ILS signals; disabling, when the glideslope deviation is less than a first predetermined threshold, at least one glideslope alert function; evaluating a current glideslope condition by comparing a designated glideslope angle to a glideslope check value; and re-enabling the at least one glideslope alert function when the glideslope check value differs from the designated glideslope angle by more than a second predetermined threshold.

Aircraft systems and methods for providing landing approach alerts

Systems and methods for intelligently alerting the flight crew of a cabin depressurization. An example system includes a cabin altimeter that generates a cabin pressure value, an alerting device, such as a speaker system and a processing device in data communication with the cabin altimeter and the alerting device. The processing device determines if there is a problem with the cabin pressure received from the cabin altimeter, determines rate of change of the cabin pressure, and sets at least one of an alert volume or an alert frequency based on the cabin pressure and the rate of change of the cabin pressure if it was determined that a problem exists with the cabin pressure. The processing device also issues a cabin depressurization alert over the alerting device based on at least one of the set alert volume or alert frequency, if there is a problem with the cabin pressure value.

Cabin altitude alerting systems and methods

A system and method for passively detecting aircraft wingtip strikes includes generating a digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells. A numeric value representative of the specific wingtip is assigned to each of the aerodrome cells. An index count array is generated that has a separate entry for each numeric value. A digital aircraft structure representative of an aircraft is generated, and is represented by a plurality of aircraft cells. A determination is made as to whether a portion of the aerodrome cells are or would be replaced with the plurality of aircraft cells. Each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are or would be replaced is counted to determine a replacement count associated therewith and that is entered into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value. One or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes are detected based on the replacement counts.

Passive aircraft wingtip strike detection system and method

A system and method for selecting a runway, comprises retrieving runway feature data and aircraft data including aircraft heading with respect to the bearing of first and second runways. Runway boundary envelopes are created for each of the first and second runways, each having a predetermined score. A total score for each of the first and second runways is compared to determine which of the runways is selected.

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Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Yasuo Ishihara