Flight Management System Altitude Sector Compliance Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face difficulties in determining whether an aircraft is below the designated minimum safe altitude for a sector due to the cumbersome and confusing use of printed aeronautical charts, which require manual orientation and searching for relevant information.
Innovation Solution
A flight management system displays a graphical representation of sectors on a cockpit display, using visually distinguishing characteristics to indicate compliance or noncompliance with the minimum safe altitude, eliminating the need for paper charts and manual orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If printed aeronautical charts are used to determine minimum safe altitude, then pilots have access to altitude information, but the process becomes cumbersome and confusing requiring manual orientation and searching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual chart orientation and searching process with an electronic display system that automatically presents altitude sector information. The flight management system electronically retrieves and displays sector altitude data corresponding to the aircraft's current location, eliminating the need for pilots to manually rotate and search paper charts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an electronic copy of the aeronautical chart information displayed on a cockpit display device. The electronic representation shows the aircraft's position relative to altitude sectors, providing a dynamic copy of the static paper chart information that updates automatically with aircraft movement.
2Loss of time
If printed charts are manually oriented and searched to find minimum safe altitude, then altitude information can be obtained, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic display system performs self-service by automatically determining the aircraft's position within altitude sectors and displaying the relevant minimum safe altitude information without requiring pilot intervention for orientation or searching. The system autonomously retrieves and presents the correct sector data based on the aircraft's current location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback to the pilot by monitoring the aircraft's position and automatically updating the display to show which altitude sector the aircraft is currently in and whether the minimum safe altitude criterion is met, eliminating the need for manual chart consultation.
3Productivity
If visual alerts are displayed on cockpit display, then altitude compliance is quickly indicated, but the system requires electronic display and processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The flight management system performs multiple functions: it manages flight data, determines aircraft position, identifies current altitude sector, and provides visual alerts for altitude compliance. By consolidating these functions into a single electronic system, the patent achieves rapid altitude compliance determination while managing device complexity through integration.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for indicating whether an aircraft is below a designated minimum safe altitude level for an altitude sector. A method comprises displaying a graphical representation of a first sector on a display device associated with the aircraft. The first sector corresponds to a geographic area having a first minimum altitude criterion. If a current altitude of the aircraft is below the first minimum altitude criterion, the method continues by displaying the graphical representation of the first sector using a first visually distinguishing characteristic chosen to indicate that the aircraft is below the designated altitude level for the first sector.