Centralized Flight Management Interface for Aircraft Diversion Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems in aircraft cockpits are decentralized, making it difficult for crew members to quickly compile information and react to abnormal events, such as fuel leaks or engine failures, and lack the capability for long-range planning and diversion anticipation.

Innovation Solution

A centralized flight management system with a tactile user interface that includes an interactive map displaying aircraft ranges and reachable airports, allowing operators to make informed diversion decisions by calculating aircraft ranges and providing diversion route assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If flight management controls are distributed throughout the cockpit in multiple locations, then each control can be positioned near relevant systems, but operators cannot quickly compile information and react to abnormal events

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of flight management controlsVSAvoidTime to compile information and react to abnormal events

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple dispersed flight management controls and information displays into a single centralized touchscreen interface. This consolidation allows operators to access all flight management functions, system information, and controls from one location, eliminating the need to physically move between multiple control stations while managing abnormal events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized touchscreen interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: displaying system status, providing control inputs, calculating aircraft ranges, showing diversion routes, and presenting airport information. This multi-functional design replaces numerous specialized controls with a single universal interface that handles all flight management tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If flight management information is displayed across multiple systems and locations, then comprehensive data is available, but operators lack centralized control and quick access during emergencies

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAvailability of flight management informationVSAvoidNumber of control locations and information displays

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges information from multiple flight management systems into a single centralized display. The touchscreen interface consolidates data about aircraft status, system health, available ranges, diversion options, and airport information into one comprehensive view, eliminating the need to check multiple separate displays and control panels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If operators rely on traditional flight management systems, then basic flight control is maintained, but diversion anticipation and long-range planning capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveBasic flight control capabilityVSAvoidDiversion anticipation and long-range planning capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of aircraft range and identifies potential diversion airports before emergencies occur. By continuously calculating and displaying available ranges and pre-identifying suitable diversion options, the system prepares operators in advance, allowing them to make informed decisions quickly when abnormalities arise without disrupting normal flight operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen interface provides continuous feedback to operators about aircraft performance, available ranges, and suitable diversion options. This real-time information feedback enables operators to understand the consequences of potential diversion decisions and plan accordingly, enhancing both basic control and strategic planning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9567099B2Aircraft flight management devices, systems, computer readable media and related methods

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

Aircraft flight management devices, systems, computer readable media, and related methods are provided. The present subject matter includes devices, systems, computer readable media, and related methods of providing flight management control during abnormal events and/or situations requiring diversion from the present mission. In some aspects, a system for providing flight management may include a computing platform with a processor, a memory, and a flight management application module (FMAM) configured to receive data from multiple servers. The FMAM may also calculate one or more aircraft ranges and/or diversion routes based upon the received data. In some aspects, systems and devices disclosed herein may be configured to provide diversion assistance by selectively displaying information including the map, one or more of the aircraft ranges, a vertical display, and information regarding one or more airports.