EFB Flight Plan Data Management for FMS Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current avionic systems lack a unified method for entering and verifying flight plan data, leading to cognitive overload and potential errors due to manual entry and lack of integrated consistency checks, which are detrimental to pilot fatigue and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) to collect, convert, verify, and communicate flight plan data to the Flight Management System (FMS), including encryption and avionics protocol emulation, to ensure data integrity and consistency, allowing for centralized management and validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual entry methods are used for flight plan data, then flexibility in data input is maintained, but cognitive overload and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic data validation, consistency checks, and error detection without requiring pilot intervention. The FMS autonomously verifies flight plan data against predefined rules and constraints, eliminating the need for manual verification while ensuring data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback to the pilot regarding data consistency and validation status. Error messages and warnings are displayed in real-time, guiding the pilot to correct input errors before final submission, thereby improving both ease of operation and data reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate input methods are used for flight plan data, then adaptability to different input scenarios is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The FMS serves multiple functions: it accepts various input formats from different sources (EFB, manual entry, external systems), performs unified validation, and outputs standardized flight plan data. This multi-functional approach consolidates multiple input methods into a single versatile system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that standardizes data from various input sources before processing. This intermediary layer handles format conversion, validation, and normalization, allowing the core FMS to work with a unified data structure regardless of the original input method.
3Reliability
If integrated verification of flight plan data is implemented, then data consistency and reliability improve, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs validation and consistency checks on flight plan data as it is being entered or received, rather than waiting until the end of the process. This preliminary verification catches errors early, preventing cascading issues and reducing the time needed for later corrections or reprocessing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual verification processes with automated computational validation. Predefined rules and algorithms automatically check data consistency, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual reviews while maintaining high reliability standards.
4Productivity
If automated data conversion and verification processes are used, then productivity and error reduction improve, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The FMS autonomously performs data conversion, validation, and consistency checking without requiring external verification tools or additional manual processing steps. This self-service capability consolidates multiple functions within the existing avionics architecture, improving productivity while minimizing the need for additional complex subsystems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method for managing aircraft flight plan data is disclosed, comprising the steps of collecting initial operational flight plan data from a flight planning system (FPS) using an electronic flight bag (EFB); converting said initial data and communicating said converted data to the avionics system of the flight management system (FMS), said FMS being capable of calculating an avionics flight plan from the converted data; and retrieving the avionics flight plan data as processed by the FMS. Developments describe, in particular, the verification of the security and/or integrity of the converted initial data using predefined compliance rules; the emulation of avionics protocols; and the use of data encryption. System and software aspects are described.