Aircraft Landing Site Selection Under Low-Visibility Emergencies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face difficulties in visually selecting suitable unplanned landing sites, especially in low visibility conditions, which can be exacerbated by mechanical issues, medical emergencies, or weather changes, impacting their ability to handle the aircraft effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a controller to detect unplanned conditions, determine landing site parameters, calculate available landing zones, and select suitable landing sites, which can be displayed to the pilot through a human-machine interface, minimizing pilot cognitive load and enabling automated response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots visually select landing sites manually, then they maintain full control and situational awareness, but their ability to identify suitable sites deteriorates under low visibility, stress, and medical emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary automated landing site selection system that processes sensor data, calculates available landing zones, and presents pre-screened options to the pilot. This intermediary handles the complex visual search and evaluation tasks, while the pilot maintains final decision authority, thus improving reliability without completely removing pilot control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously calculating available landing zones and pre-identifying suitable landing sites before emergencies occur. During critical situations, the pilot receives pre-processed landing site options rather than having to perform the entire selection process under stress, reducing cognitive load while maintaining reliability.
2Loss of time
If automated systems select landing sites, then response time improves and cognitive load reduces, but pilot control and situational awareness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial automation where the automated system performs the time-consuming tasks of calculating landing zones and screening landing sites, but leaves the final selection and adaptability decisions to the pilot. This partial action approach reduces response time for data processing while preserving pilot adaptability for judgment calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the pilot by presenting calculated landing zone information and pre-screened landing site options, allowing the pilot to verify and adjust selections based on situational awareness. This feedback loop maintains pilot adaptability while benefiting from automated speed and accuracy in data processing.
3Reliability
If pilots handle emergencies without assistance, then they maintain full situational awareness, but their ability to effectively handle the aircraft deteriorates under stress and medical emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring aircraft parameters, detecting unplanned conditions, and generating landing site recommendations without requiring constant pilot intervention. This allows the aircraft systems to serve themselves in monitoring and analysis, freeing the pilot to focus on decision-making and aircraft control during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary emergency response actions by continuously monitoring aircraft status and pre-calculating landing options before emergencies fully develop. When unplanned conditions are detected, the system has already prepared landing zone calculations and site recommendations, enabling faster and more reliable emergency response without overwhelming the pilot.
Data Source
AI summary
A landing site selection system selects landing sites for unplanned landings for small aircraft. The landing site selection system may generate a landing site database comprising parameters for landing sites. The landing sites may be any location where an aircraft may potentially land. The landing site selection system may monitor aircraft conditions and determine that an unplanned landing may be desirable. The landing site selection system may select potential landing sites based on the aircraft conditions and the landing site parameters. The landing site selection system may display landing site parameters for the selected landing sites to a pilot to allow the pilot to select a landing site. The landing site selection may provide navigation instructions or autonomously navigate the aircraft to the landing site.