Flight Deck Ticker Tape for ATC Message Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight crew members face increased workload due to the need to note down and remember important commands from air traffic controllers, which can be time-consuming and distracting during flights.
Innovation Solution
A flight deck system that displays message content from air traffic controllers as a ticker tape graphical element on an aircraft display device, featuring a recording panel for the most recent message and a bookmark panel for saved messages, allowing easy access and review of critical communications without the need for manual note-taking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flight crew members manually note down important commands from air traffic controllers, then they can record and remember commands, but their workload increases and they are distracted during flight operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically captures and displays ATC messages without requiring manual note-taking by flight crew. The transcription system processes communications autonomously, presenting relevant information to pilots who can then focus on flight operations rather than administrative tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of writing notes with an automated electronic transcription and display system. Voice communications are converted to text and presented on display devices, eliminating the need for physical note-taking instruments and manual recording processes.
2Loss of information
If all ATC messages are displayed continuously, then complete information is available, but the display area becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The display system segments ATC messages into different categories and priority levels, presenting them in an organized manner. Messages are divided into ownship communications and traffic communications, with further segmentation by urgency and relevance, allowing pilots to access complete information without being overwhelmed by a cluttered display.
Solution Approach 2:
The display interface dynamically adjusts based on flight conditions and message priority. The system adapts the presentation of information in real-time, highlighting critical messages while minimizing less urgent communications, creating a flexible display that responds to changing operational needs rather than presenting static information.
3Reliability
If important commands are highlighted for later execution, then flight crew can remember and execute commands accurately, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies and highlights important commands in advance before they need to be executed. By pre-marking critical information during the communication phase, the system ensures that pilots can easily locate and execute commands at the appropriate time without requiring complex recall or search processes.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a flight deck system comprising a controller for displaying message content from an ATC conversation. The controller is configured to: receive extracted message content from a plurality of messages; and generate a ticker tape graphical element having a first panel and a second panel for display as an overlay over a primary display on an aircraft display device. The first panel has a main panel for displaying message content for a most recently received message and one or more subsidiary panels for displaying message content for up to a first predetermined number of the most recently received messages. The second panel has a bookmark main panel for displaying message content for a second predetermined number of the most recently received bookmarked messages and one or more bookmark subsidiary panels for displaying message content for a third predetermined number of the most recently received bookmarked messages.