Engine-Out Airport Selection With Terrain-Based Glide Range Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight guidance systems for single-engine aircraft during engine out conditions do not adequately consider factors like optimal approach type, runway length, weather, terrain, and remaining battery time for airport selection, and lack effective visual indication of glide range remaining.
Innovation Solution
A flight guidance system with a controller architecture that determines an optimal destination airport and path, constructs lateral and vertical glide paths, and generates glide profiles considering aircraft-specific performance in wind and loss of potential energy, providing visual and audio alerts to pilots for safe navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a nearest airport function is provided in the FMS, then airport selection is automated, but it does not consider optimal approach type, runway length, weather, terrain, and remaining battery time
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters considered for airport selection from simple distance-based criteria to multiple factors including optimal approach type, runway length, weather conditions, terrain characteristics, and remaining battery time. This allows the FMS to adapt airport selection to specific operational constraints and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The airport selection process becomes dynamic by continuously evaluating multiple criteria and adjusting the selected airport based on changing conditions such as weather, terrain, and battery status. The system can recalculate and update the optimal airport selection as operational parameters change during flight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pilot manually determines airport selection and navigation, then optimal decisions can be made considering all factors, but it is cognitively demanding and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The FMS performs self-service by automatically evaluating multiple airport options and selecting the optimal destination based on predefined criteria including approach type, runway length, weather, terrain, and battery time. This eliminates the need for the pilot to manually analyze each factor, reducing cognitive load while maintaining decision quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the pilot by presenting the selected optimal airport and allowing pilot review and selection. This feedback loop ensures the automated selection meets pilot requirements while saving time compared to fully manual analysis.
3Device complexity
If no visual indication of glide range is provided, then the display is simpler, but the pilot lacks adequate visual indication of range during EO condition
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color-coded visual indicators to display glide range information, with different colors representing different range levels. This provides intuitive visual feedback to the pilot about remaining glide capability without requiring complex numerical displays or additional instrumentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The glide range information is displayed as a visual dimension on the navigation display, overlaying range data on the existing map or terrain display. This adds informational depth without creating a separate complex display system, integrating range awareness into the pilot's existing situational awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
Flight guidance systems and methods that provide an airport selection in response to an EO condition in a single engine plane. The airport selection takes into consideration factors such as optimal approach type, runway length, weather, terrain, remaining battery time, and the like. Additionally, various also generate and display a visual indication of a remaining glide range when the EO condition is happening; the remaining glide range determination is based, at least in part, on terrain.