Aircraft Rerouting Airport Selection Using Network Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft rerouting systems during emergency situations prioritize airports based solely on distance and weather conditions, neglecting the airline's network presence, leading to increased costs and passenger delays, especially in densely populated areas where proximity alone is not a reliable criterion.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a list of rerouting airports prioritizing those within the airline's network, considering flight duration, network frequency, altitude, and wind conditions, ensuring safer and more cost-effective rerouting by focusing on hubs within the airline's network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If airports are prioritized based solely on distance and weather conditions, then the aircraft can reach an alternate destination quickly, but the airline incurs increased costs and passenger delays due to lack of network presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the prioritization parameters from purely distance and weather-based to a multi-criteria system that includes airline network presence, frequency of service, and hub status. This transforms the airport selection criteria to balance quick arrival with reduced passenger delay by prioritizing airports where the airline has operational capacity to assist passengers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary ranking system that mediates between the conflicting objectives of speed and passenger delay. The FMS generates a prioritized list of alternate airports based on multiple criteria, allowing the pilot to select from pre-ranked options that balance both quick arrival and passenger assistance capabilities
2Device complexity
If airports are prioritized based solely on distance and weather conditions, then the selection process is simple, but the airline incurs increased operational costs due to lack of network presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enriches the selection parameters by incorporating airline-specific data such as network presence, frequency of service, and hub status. This transforms the simple distance-based selection into a multi-parameter optimization that reduces operational costs by prioritizing airports where the airline has existing infrastructure and resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the airport selection system multi-functional by integrating both meteorological data and airline operational data. The same FMS system that plans nominal routes now also prioritizes alternate airports based on both safety criteria and operational efficiency, eliminating the need for separate selection processes
3Speed
If airports are prioritized based on proximity alone in densely populated areas, then the aircraft reaches land quickly, but safety is compromised due to insufficient descent distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection criteria from purely distance-based to include safety parameters such as required descent distance and airport elevation. This transforms the airport selection to prioritize safe approach conditions over minimal horizontal distance, ensuring that proximity does not compromise safety in densely populated areas
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to assistance in the navigation of an aircraft in the cruising phase, particularly in an emergency rerouting situation. The invention relates to a method of assisting in the choice of rerouting airports for an aircraft having a position P and a speed V.: generating A first list LAC—1 of airport names Ai is generated. The first list LAC—1 has N airport names, with i being an index between 1 and N which uniquely identifies an airport that an organization operating the aircraft chooses as a relevant destination. A number m is determined which is a minimum between a predefined number M and the number N. M airport names are presented from the first list LAC—1 to an operator of the aircraft in a predefined order.