Onboard Flight Plan Validation System for Error Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flight plans are often loaded with errors due to human mistakes or incorrect data, leading to potential safety issues and operational disruptions, as they are not adequately validated before flight, relying on manual checks that are time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a computing device onboard the aircraft to receive and validate flight plans by comparing them with data from a remote source, identifying implausible conditions, and automatically displaying notifications to request modifications, thereby ensuring the accuracy of flight parameters before execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual checks are used to validate flight plans, then human operators can review and approve flight parameters, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of flight plan validationVSAvoidtime for flight crew to validate flight plan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flight management system automatically performs validation of flight parameters by comparing them against database information without requiring manual intervention from flight crew. The system self-validates the flight plan by checking consistency between loaded parameters and database records, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual verification while maintaining high reliability through automated error detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual checking process with an automated electronic validation system. The flight management system uses computer-based algorithms to automatically compare flight parameters with database information, substituting human operators with an electronic validation mechanism that is both faster and more reliable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If flight plans are loaded without automated validation, then the loading process is simple and quick, but errors from human mistakes or incorrect data lead to safety issues and operational disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of flight plan loadingVSAvoidaccuracy of flight plan data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs validation checks automatically during the flight plan loading process before the flight crew needs to review or approve the parameters. By conducting the validation preliminarily during loading, the system ensures data accuracy is verified upfront, preventing errors from propagating without sacrificing loading speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flight management system automatically compares loaded flight parameters with corresponding database information and provides immediate feedback on any inconsistencies or errors. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and flag problematic data points during loading, ensuring reliability while maintaining productivity through automated error detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12159540B2Method and system for updating a flight plan

Publication Date: 2024.12.03 GE AVIATION SYST LTD

AI summary

A method for validating, with a first computing device onboard an aircraft, a flight plan having a set of first flight parameters comprising respective first values, loaded onto the first computing device of an aircraft includes receiving from a second source, by the first computing device, data comprising a set of second flight parameters having respective second values corresponding to the set of first flight parameters. The method includes comparing the first values of the set of first flight parameters to the second values of the corresponding set of second flight parameters by the first computing device, determining, whether an implausible condition exists. When an implausible condition is determined, the method includes automatically displaying a first notification on a display device in the aircraft, requesting a modification to the set of first flight parameters, and receiving a modification to the loaded flight plan based on the notification.