Cold Temperature Altitude Correction During Airport Approach
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face challenges in accurately adjusting altitudes during aircraft approaches to cold temperature restricted airports, as current methods rely on manual corrections and communication with air traffic control, which can lead to safety concerns due to potential altimetry errors.
Innovation Solution
A cold temperature assistance system using a computing device with a processor that automatically detects temperature restrictions, calculates corrected altitudes based on sensor data and NOTAMs, and communicates these corrections to air traffic control, while alerting pilots when to apply the corrections, thereby enhancing real-time awareness and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual corrections and communication with air traffic control are used, then pilots can adjust altitudes during approach, but the process is error-prone and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting temperature restrictions from NOTAMs, calculating corrected altitudes, and presenting them to pilots without requiring manual computation or extensive radio communications. The pilot assistance system performs the correction process autonomously based on published data and sensor inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of altitude correction with an automated electronic system. Instead of pilots manually calculating corrections and communicating with ATC, an electronic pilot assistance system automatically determines corrected altitudes using sensors, NOTAMs, and temperature data, then presents the information to the pilot.
2Measurement precision
If pilots manually apply cold temperature compensation, then altitude corrections can be made, but communication reports by radio contact with ATC are required and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-fetching and storing NOTAM data containing temperature restrictions before the approach phase. The pilot assistance system has the correction information ready in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming radio communications during the critical approach phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary pilot assistance system that mediates between the raw temperature data/NOTAMs and the pilot. This intermediary automatically processes the information, calculates corrections, and presents them to the pilot, replacing the need for direct pilot-ATC communication for each correction.
3Reliability
If pilots query ATC for vector altitudes, then safety can be maintained, but the complexity of real-time communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot assistance system performs self-service by automatically comparing ATC-assigned altitudes with calculated corrected altitudes and identifying when queries are necessary. This reduces communication complexity by eliminating unnecessary radio contacts while maintaining safety-critical queries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the relationship between ATC-assigned altitudes and calculated corrected altitudes, then providing feedback to the pilot about when to query ATC. This automated feedback loop maintains safety while reducing the complexity of real-time communication decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assisting pilots during an approach to an airport with a cold temperature restriction which includes: programming on a computing device, at least one processor to implement an algorithm of an app to automatically detect a temperature restriction of a particular airport with the cold temperature restriction and to calculate a cold temperature compensation based on data from published notices to airman (NOTAMs) and to generate data of a corrected altitude of the aircraft during an approach to the cold temperature restricted airport based on a first component of sensor data contributed from the current flight approach and based on a second component of data of NOTAMs; receiving sensor data to the at least one processor deployed on the aircraft; an associated memory for acquiring the published data; and executing an algorithm to calculate a corrected cold temperature altitude when approaching the airport with the cold weather restriction.