Flight Deck System Automating Approach Minima Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft operations require manual adjustment of visibility and ceiling minima during instrument approaches, which is inefficient and increases the risk of operator error, potentially leading to regulatory violations or collisions with terrain.
Innovation Solution
A flight deck system with a graphical interface and processor that receives aircraft conditions and compares them to electronic representations of charts to automatically determine and display applicable minima, reducing manual data entry and enhancing automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual adjustment of visibility and ceiling minima is performed during instrument approaches, then operators can control the minima values, but the process becomes inefficient and increases the risk of operator error
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines and displays applicable approach minima by comparing aircraft conditions with chart criteria without requiring manual pilot input. The flight deck system retrieves aircraft state information, identifies relevant approach charts, and computes minima values autonomously, eliminating the manual adjustment process while maintaining accuracy and improving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of adjusting minima values with an automated electronic system. The flight deck system uses computer processing to compare aircraft conditions with chart criteria and automatically determines applicable minima, substituting human manual operations with automated electronic computation and display
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of approach minima is required, then operators can customize minima values, but this increases the complexity of the operation and potential for regulatory violations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic determination of approach minima by comparing aircraft conditions with chart criteria, eliminating the need for manual adjustment operations. The flight deck system autonomously retrieves necessary data, performs comparisons, and displays the applicable minima, making the process easier while reducing complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads approach chart data and criteria into the flight deck system before the approach procedure begins. By having the data ready and pre-processed, the system can quickly determine applicable minima without requiring complex manual lookups or adjustments during the critical approach phase
3Productivity
If automated determination of approach minima is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight deck system integrates multiple functions into a single automated minima determination system. It combines aircraft state monitoring, chart data retrieval, criteria comparison, and minima display functions, allowing the system to perform all these operations through a unified automated process that improves efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flight deck system as an intermediary between the aircraft operations and the approach minima determination process. This intermediary system handles the complex comparisons and data processing automatically, shielding the pilots from complexity while maintaining high operational efficiency through automated computation and display
Data Source
AI summary
A flight deck system for an aircraft includes a processor, a graphical interface for displaying flight-related information in the form of selectable items, a control interface for receiving a selection of the selectable items, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing electronic representations of charts. The selectable items correspond to the electronic representations of charts, and the electronic representations of charts describe minima and associated conditional criteria for operating the aircraft (e.g., proximate to an airport). The processor is configured to arrange the selectable items, receive a selection of the selectable items, identify a corresponding one of the electronic representations of charts, receive a condition associated with the aircraft, compare the condition to the conditional criteria for operating the aircraft to identify an applicable one of the plurality of minima, and display the applicable one of the plurality of minima on the graphical interface.