Aircraft NADP Customization in FMS to Cut Pilot Workload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft noise abatement departure procedures (NADPs) require manual modification by pilots due to location-specific variations, leading to increased workload and difficulty in tracking and automating changes, which is cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Aircraft systems with display devices, flight management systems, and user interfaces allow pilots to customize NADPs by inputting parameter values before takeoff, enabling graphical customization and automation of noise abatement procedures through autopilot and auto-throttle execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard NADPs are manually modified by pilots to account for location-specific variations, then the procedures can be adapted to local conditions, but the workload increases and tracking and automation of changes becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNADP customization capabilityVSAvoidPilot workload
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate NADP parameters based on the aerodrome location, eliminating the need for pilots to manually modify procedures. The FMS self-services by querying the database using the aerodrome identifier and automatically configuring the departure procedure parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A database acts as an intermediary between the aerodrome location and the NADP parameters. The database stores pre-configured location-specific parameters and provides them to the FMS, serving as a mediator that translates aerodrome identifiers into appropriate procedural parameters without requiring manual pilot intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If standard NADPs are manually modified by pilots, then location-specific requirements can be met, but it becomes cumbersome and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNADP customization capabilityVSAvoidFlight preparation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

NADP parameters for various aerodromes are pre-configured and stored in the database before flight operations. When a pilot selects an aerodrome, the system has already prepared the appropriate parameters, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual modifications during flight preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate NADP parameters based on the aerodrome location, eliminating the need for pilots to manually modify procedures. The FMS self-services by querying the database using the aerodrome identifier and automatically configuring the departure procedure parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual modification of NADP data is required, then customization for different airports is possible, but automation of the modified NADP becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNADP customization capabilityVSAvoidNADP automation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate NADP parameters based on the aerodrome location, eliminating the need for pilots to manually modify procedures. The FMS self-services by querying the database using the aerodrome identifier and automatically configuring the departure procedure parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A database acts as an intermediary between the aerodrome location and the NADP parameters. The database stores pre-configured location-specific parameters and provides them to the FMS, serving as a mediator that translates aerodrome identifiers into appropriate procedural parameters without requiring manual pilot intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4672198A1System and method for customizing noise abatement departure procedures
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4672198A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4672198A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4672198A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An aircraft system comprises at least one display device within an aircraft, a flight management system (FMS), at least one user interface, and processor circuitry forming at least one processor communicatively coupled to the display device, the FMS, and the user interface. The at least one processor is arranged to operate by displaying, prior to take-off while the aircraft is on the ground, at least one noise abatement departure procedure (NADP) page, where the NADP page has at least one input field arranged to receive an NADP parameter value from a user after display of the at least one input field. The NADP page displays an indication of an NADP parameter type to be entered into the at least one input field. The processor also is arranged to operate by loading the NADP parameter value as part of a customized NADP into the FMS.