Aircraft Alignment Detection for Wrong Runway and Taxiway Approaches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air traffic control systems lack sufficient precision to distinguish between an aircraft's alignment with the intended runway and incorrect surfaces at an airport, leading to potential unsafe landings due to insufficient information about the aircraft's location and path.
Innovation Solution
A method and computing system that determine an aircraft's trajectory and airport configuration to identify alignment with incorrect surfaces, issuing alerts to divert the aircraft to the intended runway, utilizing processing circuitry and interface interactions to ensure safe landings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar systems are used to monitor aircraft position, then air traffic control can track aircraft location, but the precision is insufficient to reliably distinguish between alignment with the intended runway and incorrect surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of measurement precision by integrating GPS and WAAS data, which provide horizontal accuracy of 10 meters or better and vertical accuracy of 1 meter or better, significantly improving upon traditional radar precision and enabling reliable distinction between runway and incorrect surface alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the airport surface into distinct zones (runway, taxiway, grass areas) and evaluates aircraft trajectory against each zone separately, allowing precise identification of whether the aircraft is aligned with the correct runway or an incorrect surface
2Loss of information
If air traffic controllers rely on radar information, then they can monitor aircraft approach, but they lack sufficient information to determine aircraft alignment with incorrect surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple information sources including GPS position data, WAAS correction data, aircraft trajectory, and airport surface configuration data to create a comprehensive view of aircraft alignment, eliminating information gaps that exist in radar-only systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to air traffic controllers by generating alerts when aircraft trajectory indicates alignment with incorrect surfaces, enabling controllers to take corrective action before the aircraft reaches the wrong surface
3Reliability
If the system issues alerts for all potential misalignments, then safety is improved, but false alerts may occur when aircraft temporarily align with incorrect surfaces during normal approach
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically evaluates aircraft trajectory by continuously monitoring position and direction changes, allowing it to distinguish between temporary alignment with incorrect surfaces during normal approach maneuvers and sustained alignment indicating potential wrong surface landing, thereby reducing false alerts while maintaining safety
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computing system and computer program product are provided to identify the alignment of an aircraft with an incorrect surface, such as a taxiway or a runway that is closed or unsuited for current conditions. In a method, the trajectory of an aircraft approaching an airport is determined. Based upon the trajectory and information regarding a configuration of the airport, the method determines whether the aircraft is approaching the incorrect surface. If the aircraft is approaching the incorrect surface, the method interacts via an interface to cause an alert to be issued. If the aircraft is approaching a correct surface, the method determines whether the trajectory of the aircraft is consistent with predefined procedures of the airport. If the trajectory of the aircraft is inconsistent with predefined procedures of the airport, the method interacts via the interface to cause the alert to be issued.