Airport Moving Map Control Tower Frequency Tuning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flight crews face complexity and risk of manual errors when switching between multiple communication frequencies for different air traffic control entities and services around an airport, particularly during high workload periods, which can lead to mishaps.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using an airport moving map display to display interactive control tower icons, generate and display frequency lists specific to selected control towers, and automatically tune communication radios to the appropriate frequencies, reducing the need for manual tuning and minimizing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flight crew manually tune communication frequencies for different air traffic control entities, then communication capability is maintained, but workload increases and error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically provides frequency information to the flight crew based on their current location and the active control tower, eliminating the need for manual frequency selection and reducing human error
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors aircraft position and control tower status, dynamically updating the displayed frequency list to ensure the crew always has access to the correct frequency for the current operational phase
2Adaptability or versatility
If flight crew switches between multiple communication frequencies during high workload periods, then communication with different ATC entities is maintained, but error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and displays only the frequencies relevant to the currently active control tower and aircraft phase, filtering out unnecessary frequencies to prevent crew confusion and ensure focus on the correct frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The frequency list is segmented and organized by control tower entity, allowing the crew to easily identify and switch between frequencies for different ATC entities based on the displayed list
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive frequency lists are displayed for all control towers, then all communication options are available, but information complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The displayed frequency list dynamically changes based on the selected control tower icon, automatically adjusting the information presented to match the current operational context and reducing unnecessary information
Data Source
AI summary
A system in an aerial vehicle for aiding a flight crew with aerial vehicle communication around an airdrome is provided. The system comprises one or more processors configured by programming instructions on non-transient computer readable media. The system is configured to: cause, for each control tower (CT) at the airdrome, an interactive CT icon corresponding to the CT to be displayed on an airport moving map display (AMMD) or airdrome map that depicts the ground space at the airdrome; receive flight crew selection of a CT via selection of the CT icon corresponding to the selected CT; generate a CT frequency list comprising a listing of frequencies associated with the airdrome and the selected CT and not including frequencies not associated with the selected CT; and cause the CT frequency list to be displayed on the AMMD or airdrome map responsive to selection of the selected CT icon.