Automated Flight Level Change Clearance via CPDLC
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Solution Overview
Problem
In transoceanic flights, pilots face challenges in determining the desirability and feasibility of flight level changes due to the absence of positive air traffic control, leading to significant administrative workload and potential missed opportunities for cost-effective altitude adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that automatically assesses the desirability and feasibility of flight level changes using onboard avionics data, generating and transmitting a clearance request message to air traffic control via CPDLC when the change complies with air traffic control policies, thereby reducing pilot workload and minimizing heads-down time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots manually evaluate flight level changes using FMS and various cockpit information sources, then they can determine desirability and feasibility of altitude changes, but this process creates significant administrative workload and heads down time
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing the aircraft's avionics systems to automatically evaluate flight level changes, compute separation distances from reference aircraft, and determine compliance with ITP procedures without requiring pilot intervention. The system serves itself by using onboard sensors and processors to gather necessary data and make clearance decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of evaluating flight plans, computing parameters, and assessing ITP compliance with an automated electronic system. The processor-based system substitutes for manual pilot calculations and evaluations, using digital data processing to determine flight level change feasibility and generate clearance requests automatically.
2Loss of information
If pilots manually process flight plan changes through FMS to compare flight parameters, then they can assess impact on fuel consumption and ETA, but this process diverts pilot attention and creates heads down time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically computing flight parameters such as fuel consumption, ETA, and environmental impact when evaluating potential flight level changes. The processor analyzes these parameters without requiring pilot involvement, allowing pilots to remain vigilant and avoid heads-down time while ensuring complete parameter assessment.
3Productivity
If the system automatically generates and transmits clearance requests, then pilot workload is reduced and timely evaluation is ensured, but automation extent must be balanced with compliance verification
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring ITP compliance conditions, separation distances from reference aircraft, and flight plan parameters. The processor uses this feedback to dynamically adjust clearance requests and ensure compliance with air traffic control procedures, maintaining safety while enabling automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system acts as an intermediary between the pilot's flight level change desire and the air traffic control clearance process. It mediates by automatically evaluating feasibility, computing separation distances, verifying ITP compliance, and transmitting clearance requests through appropriate communication channels, reducing direct pilot involvement in routine clearance procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods and systems for the automatic calculation and presentation of data on a display device alerting a pilot that a change in flight plan is desirable, possible and administratively compliant under air traffic control protocol. The methods and systems may automatically request the flight clearance over a data link or the pilot may override the data link.