Flight Plan Change Validation via FMS Feedback Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of external flight plan changes with flight management systems poses challenges due to potential discrepancies in data effects on avionics systems, leading to increased pilot workload and error risks, as existing solutions lack efficient mechanisms for validating such changes.
Innovation Solution
A system that coordinates with the flight management system on-board an aircraft to determine the validity of flight plan changes generated by external devices, using a FP deviation module to receive and process aircraft and weather data, generate deviations, and display graphical user interface objects for pilot review, thereby reducing pilot workload and error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If external flight plan changes are integrated with the flight management system, then flight efficiency and connectivity are improved, but data discrepancies and error risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the external device receives calculated parameters from the FMS and compares them against the original savings parameters. This closed-loop feedback allows the system to validate whether the flight plan change actually achieves the intended savings, and only confirms the change if the savings are realized, thereby maintaining data accuracy while enabling efficient external integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation by calculating the actual parameter changes before confirming the flight plan modification. The FMS calculates the new parameter values, and the external device compares these against the projected savings before the change is finalized, preventing erroneous changes from being implemented
2Reliability
If pilot review of external data is required, then data accuracy is improved, but pilot workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external device performs self-validation by automatically comparing the calculated parameters from the FMS against the original savings parameters. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for pilots to manually verify each parameter change, as the system autonomously checks for discrepancies and confirms only valid changes, thereby maintaining data accuracy while reducing pilot workload
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of pilot review and verification is replaced with an automated electronic validation system. The external device electronically compares parameters, displays discrepancies, and seeks pilot confirmation only when necessary, substituting the manual review process with automated computing and display mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If automated validation is implemented, then pilot workload is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external device leverages its existing multi-functional capabilities to perform validation operations. The same display device, processor, and communication interfaces used for other flight planning functions are also utilized for parameter comparison and validation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated validation hardware and minimizing the increase in system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for coordinating with a flight management system (FMS) on-board an aircraft to determine whether a flight plan (FP) change generated by an external device is valid. The method includes generating the FP change, which includes a deviation to the intended FP and a savings parameter associated with a parameter of the intended FP, responsive to weather data and aircraft state data; generating a lateral display showing the intended FP and an alphanumeric window with the FP change; transmitting the FP change to the FMS; receiving, from the FMS, a travel path and a calculated parameter for the travel path, generated by the FMS responsive to the FP change; determining whether the travel path realizes the savings parameter by comparing the calculated parameter to the savings parameter; and, displaying either a selectable graphical user interface (GUI) object to implement the FP change, or a warning based thereon.