84 results about "Flight attendant" patented technology

A system and method provides overall security, service, and maintenance management for airlines. The system intends to reinforce national security by installing safeguard on-board computer system on every commercial airplane, maximize customer confidence and satisfaction by providing scalable security / service management, communicate with FAA, FBI, or CIA systems by using new telecommunication technology, and Interact with Apollo, Saber and other airline legacy systems by providing individualized interfaces. The system also helps flight attendants to have better passenger services, and helps mechanics to have better aircraft maintenance.

A system and method directed to providing a communication system for receiving data from sources outside the aircraft, storing the received information and then presenting the received information on a portable display device having a screen that may be read with the necessary information. The portable display device may interface with a docking station for receiving the data from a communication management unit and then removed and passed freely among flight attendants or other personnel on the aircraft. Further, the portable display device may be interfaced with other docking stations in other parts of the aircraft to communicate with the communication management unit.

In an aircraft cabin floor adjacent to the cockpit, a trap door opens downwardly into a security cell, to trap a terrorist trying to enter the cockpit. Two walls with lockable airtight doors bound a safety buffer cabin between the cockpit and the passenger cabin. Sensors like seat occupancy sensors, motion detectors, video cameras and microphones provide data regarding the location, movement and activities of passengers to a system that evaluates the data to recognize unusual data situations indicating one or more escalation levels of suspicious or aggressive actions by passengers. Alarm signals and terrorist countermeasure devices such as fogging or tranquilizer gas generators, noise generators, high intensity blinding / glaring lights, a cabin lighting master shut-off, window darkening devices, and tranquilizer dart guns are actuated automatically by the evaluation system, or manually by a cockpit input device or a portable signaling device carried by a flight attendant.

A cabin management system for functions which are provided within a passenger compartment, in each seats of a passenger said system comprising a function control unit which has a switching unit for switching individually functions for the respective passenger on and off, wherein the passenger is authenticated by identification means with respect to said cabin management system, said function control units being connected by means of an on-board network to a server which communicates via a wireless interface with a service trolley comprising a display indicating a comfort class selected by the respective passenger to a flight attendant.

The invention relates to systems for preventing off-normal situations when there is a possibility that an aircraft penetrates into a dangerous area of the vortex shedding of a vortex generator. The inventive system consists of information sub-systems for recording and storing information on the expected relative position of the aircraft and trailing vortex areas in line with danger criteria which are specified by a user and concern dangerous aerodynamic forces and torques effecting the aircraft and induced by the trailing vortex of vortex generators, and for conveying said information to said user, who can be the aircraft crew and / or flight attendants, at a preventive distance from the aircraft and at a forecast moment. Said information can be visualised in a human-readable form and in a volume sufficient for forming a directive signal for carrying out a flight manoeuvre by the aircraft in order to move away from the dangerous trailing vortex area.

A method and system for alerting a cockpit crew of terrorist activity in a cabin of an aircraft. The system includes a plurality of fobs worn by flight attendants. The system also includes an antenna sending unit (ASU) located within the cabin and a cockpit display unit (CDU) located in the cockpit of the aircraft. When a terrorist situation is detected by a flight attendant, the flight attendant sends an alerting signal to the cockpit by sending a coded signal via the ASU to the CDU. The CDU provides an indicator to the cockpit crew. The CDU may also optionally send a transponder code and an ACARS message to ground-based units.

A method for controlling an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system using network protocols, such as TCP / IP, HTTP, or FTP. Control of a plurality of functions, including in-seat and broadcast audio and video, overhead reading light control, and flight attendant call, are implemented using a network client, a network server, and a network server program, each communicating with network protocols. The network client may be visible or invisible to a user of the in-flight entertainment system, depending on whether a web browser or a virtual web browser is used as a network client. The software for each line replaceable unit (LRU) may be designed, redesigned, or tested independently from other components within the IFE system. Particular functions of the IFE system can be made available only to particular parts of the IFE system, allowing different levels of access to the IFE system for different passenger classes.

To guide a passenger to the general location of his assigned seat in an aircraft cabin, the cabin is divided into several cabin zones that are individually identified by different colors of illumination, for example a yellow cabin zone, a red cabin zone and a blue cabin zone. Each service class can correspond to one cabin zone or encompass plural cabin zones. Lighting devices arranged in the cabin are activated to provide illuminating light having the appropriate allocated illumination color in each respective cabin zone. The lighting devices are preferably ceiling lights, sidewall lights, and / or window funnel lights, controlled from a flight attendant panel via a lighting controller. A passenger ticket displays the passenger's assigned seat number and letter, and also the color of the cabin zone in which the assigned seat is located.

To guide a passenger to the general location of his assigned seat in an aircraft cabin, the cabin is divided into several cabin zones that are individually identified by different colors of illumination, for example a yellow cabin zone, a red cabin zone and a blue cabin zone. Each service class can correspond to one cabin zone or encompass plural cabin zones. Lighting devices arranged in the cabin are activated to provide illuminating light having the appropriate allocated illumination color in each respective cabin zone. The lighting devices are preferably ceiling lights, sidewall lights, and / or window funnel lights, controlled from a flight attendant panel via a lighting controller. A passenger ticket displays the passenger's assigned seat number and letter, and also the color of the cabin zone in which the assigned seat is located.

A refrigeration unit for an aircraft galley comprises a frame establishing a main compartment, and a side window that receives a side access compartment, where a the dividing wall separates the side compartment interior space from a main chilled compartment. A side door mounted to the side access compartment allows access to the side compartment but not the main compartment, allowing segregation of snacks and items accessible to passengers via self-serve from those that are only distributed by flight attendants.

The cockpit access protection system relies on a method whereby the locked cockpit doors of a plurality of aircraft may be unlocked only by authorized personnel within the cockpit (e.g., the pilot and copilot). In the event of a security breach in any one aircraft, the control of the cockpit doors of all aircraft shift to a ground control center which commands all cockpit doors to remain locked until the security breach is removed. In this way, neither flight attendant personnel within the aircraft cabin nor the pilot or copilot within the cockpit can be forced to unlock the cockpit door.

A method and system for alerting a cockpit crew of terrorist activity in a cabin of an aircraft. The system includes a plurality of fobs worn by flight attendants. The system also includes an antenna sending unit (ASU) located within the cabin and a cockpit display unit (CDU) located in the cockpit of the aircraft. When a terrorist situation is detected by a flight attendant, the flight attendant sends an alerting signal to the cockpit by sending a coded signal via the ASU to the CDU. The CDU provides an indicator to the cockpit crew. The CDU may also optionally send a transponder code and an ACARS message to ground-based units.

A service network in which a monitoring system is implemented under the aspect of weight and space optimization. The service network for an aircraft includes a multi-purpose flight attendant panel, a bus system and a switch, wherein the multi-purpose flight attendant panel and the switch are connected via the bus system, wherein the switch includes an interface for at least one recording device, and wherein the multi-purpose flight attendant panel includes a control device for controlling the recording device.

Inflight entertainment (IFE) system with remote control capability and video display synchronization. In one aspect, remote control capability and video display synchronization are used to extend the advantages of touch screen IFE passenger controls to airline passengers who cannot easily reach their seatback video display unit (VDU) due to, for example, cabin seating arrangements, age or disabilities. These advantages are realized through the expedient of a passenger control unit (PCU) touch screen video display that is synchronized with a VDU video display. When the passenger makes a selection by touching the PCU touch screen video display, the VDU video display reflects the selection at latency levels below human perception. In another aspect, remote control capability and video display synchronization are used to allow selections to be made remotely from the passenger's seat, such as by a flight attendant, parent, or interactive game competitor, and reflected on both a remote video display and the passenger's seatback VDU and / or PCU video display at latency levels below human perception.

Each flight attendant would carry a small portable receiver / transmitter device, similar in size to a pager, and a central receiver / transmitter located in the cockpit. Each portable receiver / transmitter has a numerical designation (1, 2, 3, etc.) which is unique to that one device. The portable receiver / transmitter has two buttons (yellow alert and red alert), a numerical display, indicator lights, and a vibrator. In a developing situation, a nearby flight attendant presses either the yellow or red alert button (depending on the severity of the situation), producing a radio frequency (RF) signal. The central receiver / transmitter receives, processes, and re-broadcasts the signal to all other portable receiver / transmitters worn by flight attendants. The portable receiver / transmitters vibrate to alert the wearers to the situation. A light (either red or yellow) illuminates on all portable receiver / transmitters, and the numerical designation of the sending receiver / transmitter appears on the displays. In addition, a light corresponding to the sending receiver / transmitter's numerical designation appears on the central receiver / transmitter, as well as an audible alarm sound.

A retractable flight attendant chair includes an anchor box, a sled coupled to the anchor box for horizontal translation of the retractable chair into and out of the stowage compartment, and a chair mounted on the sled. The chair includes an expanding / folding backrest and seat portion that allows the chair to be stowed in a small envelope compartment when not in use.

An information and notification system onboard an aircraft includes a databus that receives information transmitted from outside the aircraft via an interface and a director or control unit, as well as information from onboard data storage units via a flight attendant panel, whereby the information content can be selected, changed, and controlled. The databus may be a hard-wired or wireless databus, by which the information is provided to variable universal notification displays incorporated in passenger service units in the passenger cabin. The display can thus provide variable and selectable information content for the passengers.

An aircraft speech transmission arrangement includes a speech receiver having a microphone, an audio output device, and an interposed speech processing system. This arrangement enables spoken communication between flight attendants and pilots, and spoken announcements to passengers. A speech analysis and evaluation module incorporated into the speech receiver evaluates the speech quality of the speech signal received by the microphone, by comparing it with reference parameters. If the speech quality is unacceptable, a quality feedback information signal is provided to a signaling device that indicates the unacceptable speech quality to the person speaking (the speaker). In response thereto, the speaker can improve the volume and clarity of the speech, as well as the position and orientation of the speech receiver relative to the speaker's mouth. This real-time feedback of the received speech quality allows the speaker to optimize factors that influence the received speech quality while speaking.

Each flight attendant would carry a small portable receiver / transmitter device, similar in size to a pager, and a central receiver / transmitter located in the cockpit. Each portable receiver / transmitter has a numerical designation (1, 2, 3, etc.) which is unique to that one device. The portable receiver / transmitter has two buttons (yellow alert and red alert), a numerical display, indicator lights, and a vibrator. In a developing situation, a nearby flight attendant presses either the yellow or red alert button (depending on the severity of the situation), producing a radio frequency (RF) signal. The central receiver / transmitter receives, processes, and re-broadcasts the signal to all other portable receiver / transmitters worn by flight attendants. The portable receiver / transmitters vibrate to alert the wearers to the situation. A light (either red or yellow) illuminates on all portable receiver / transmitters, and the numerical designation of the sending receiver / transmitter appears on the displays. In addition, a light corresponding to the sending receiver / transmitter's numerical designation appears on the central receiver / transmitter, as well as an audible alarm sound.

The invention relates to systems for preventing off-normal situations when there is a possibility that an aircraft penetrates into a dangerous area of the vortex shedding of a vortex generator. The inventive system consists of information sub-systems for recording and storing information on the expected relative position of the aircraft and trailing vortex areas in line with danger criteria which are specified by a user and concern dangerous aerodynamic forces and torques effecting the aircraft and induced by the trailing vortex of vortex generators, and for conveying said information to said user, who can be the aircraft crew and / or flight attendants, at a preventive distance from the aircraft and at a forecast moment. Said information can be visualised in a human-readable form and in a volume sufficient for forming a directive signal for carrying out a flight manoeuvre by the aircraft in order to move away from the dangerous trailing vortex area.

A flight attendant seat arrangement comprises a monument which is suitable for installation in an aircraft cabin, a first receiving recess being constructed in a wall of said monument. A flight attendant seat has a backrest element and also a seat element. The backrest element and seat element are at least partially received within the first receiving recess constructed in the wall of the monument.

A lavatory monument assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The modular lavatory monument assembly includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to form an enclosure that defines a lavatory interior, a door positioned on one of the first, second, third, or fourth walls, and an opening on the fourth side that is open to an exterior of the enclosure. A seat is at least partially positioned in the opening. The seat includes a seat back and a seat portion that is pivotal between a storage position and a deployed position. In the deployed position the seat portion extends outside of the opening.

A refrigeration unit for an aircraft galley comprises a frame establishing a main compartment, and a side window that receives a side access compartment, where a the dividing wall separates the side compartment interior space from a main chilled compartment. A side door mounted to the side access compartment allows access to the side compartment but not the main compartment, allowing segregation of snacks and items accessible to passengers via self-serve from those that are only distributed by flight attendants.

The invention relates to a closed three-dimensional vestibule training device which comprises a support, an outer side ring, a middle ring and an inner side ring. In the initial state, three rotatingrings are in the state of sharing the same circle center and the same plane. The support and the outer side ring are connected through a rotating pair, the outer side ring and the middle ring are connected through a rotating pair, and the middle ring and the inner side ring are connected through a rotating pair, and the angle formed between the rotating axis of the inner side ring inside the middle ring and the rotating axis of the middle ring inside the outer side ring is 90 degrees. The angle formed between the rotating axis of the middle ring inside the outer side ring and the rotating axisof the outer side ring inside the support is 45 degrees. The diameters of the outer side ring, the middle ring and the inner side ring are sequentially reduced, and a safety device is arranged on theinner side ring. Due to multi-dimensional rotation, the high speed, complex steering, G increase and decrease and other flight transportation actual environment can be simulated, and training betterfits the actual working requirement, and better fits vestibule resistance and adaptability needed by the complex environment. The closed vestibule training device is wide in application range, can beapplied to the civil aviation flight major and flight attendant, air marshal and air duty majors directly related to flight transportation, and can be applied to military aviation pilot training, navigation shipping and other major training. The device can be applied to physical education, physical exercise, physical ability training practice, physical ability testing and experiments and other working in various majors.