Avionics ATC Data Acquisition via Ground Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current processes for establishing communication sessions between aircraft and air traffic control centers are time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when ATC centers upgrade or change addresses, requiring frequent updates of databases across multiple aircraft, which is a labor-intensive endeavor.
Innovation Solution
An avionics system that communicates with a data center to acquire and store identifying information for ATC centers, allowing for efficient establishment of communication sessions by transmitting this information to aircraft, reducing the need for manual updates and minimizing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots manually search through data sheets or remember ATC center information, then they can establish communication sessions, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically retrieves and populates ATC center information without requiring pilot intervention. The avionics system queries the database using flight plan data and automatically fills in the communication session parameters, making the system self-servicing rather than relying on manual pilot input.
Solution Approach 2:
The ATC center information is pre-stored in a database on the ground. Before flight, the system has access to this pre-prepared information, eliminating the need for pilots to search or remember details during flight preparation.
2Reliability
If databases on aircraft are updated to reflect ATC center upgrades or address changes, then communication accuracy is maintained, but the update process becomes increasingly labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
A ground-based database serves as an intermediary between ATC centers and aircraft systems. This centralized database receives updates from ATC centers and automatically distributes them to multiple aircraft, eliminating the need for manual updates at each aircraft location.
Solution Approach 2:
The database on the ground is pre-updated with ATC center information changes before aircraft receive the data. This allows the aircraft database to be automatically synchronized without requiring manual intervention during the update process.
3Ease of operation
If pilots enter ATC center information manually, then they can establish communication sessions, but errors occur when wrong centers are selected or data fails to match
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically retrieves and populates ATC center information without requiring pilot intervention. The avionics system queries the database using flight plan data and automatically fills in the communication session parameters, eliminating manual entry errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses flight plan data as input to automatically query the ATC center database and retrieve the correct center information. This feedback loop ensures that the correct ATC center is identified based on the aircraft's intended route and destination, providing automatic verification of the correct center selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing air traffic control center data to aircraft is provided. In certain embodiments an avionics system includes a communication device configured to communicate with a data center and an air traffic control center; and a processing unit configured to execute machine readable instructions. In at least one embodiments, the machine readable instructions cause the processing unit to manage communications associated with the flight of an aircraft, wherein the communications are communicated through the communication device with the data center; distinguish identifying information received through the communication device, wherein the identifying information identifies at least one of the air traffic control center and associated aeronautical telecommunications network address; and establish a communication session with the air traffic control center using the identifying information received through the communication device.