Flight Planning Module Datalink Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pilots face inefficiencies in downlinking route modifications to air traffic control ground stations, requiring multiple display interactions and human inputs, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An in-aircraft system with a flight planning module that integrates datalink functionality, allowing pilots to convert and send pending flight plans directly to a ground station without additional human input, using a dedicated button on the display unit, thereby streamlining the process and eliminating the need for multiple display interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pilots use traditional separate display systems for flight planning and datalink communication, then each system can be optimized independently, but pilots must interact with multiple displays and input interfaces which increases operational complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flight planning module and datalink message applications module into a single integrated system. The flight planning module can directly generate and send datalink messages without requiring pilot intervention in separate message applications, merging two previously separate operational workflows into one unified process.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight planning module is given multi-functional capability to not only plan flights but also to directly communicate with ground stations through datalink messages. This universal module performs multiple functions (flight planning, message generation, message sending) that previously required separate dedicated systems.
2Productivity
If pilots manually input flight plan modifications through separate message applications, then message accuracy can be verified, but the process requires multiple steps and human inputs which increases time consumption and operational burden
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the flight planning module automatically generate the datalink message content and format before transmission. The message is prepared in advance with all necessary information structured correctly, eliminating the need for subsequent manual input and verification steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight planning module serves itself by automatically generating and sending its own datalink messages without requiring external intervention from message applications or additional pilot inputs. The system performs the communication function autonomously based on the flight plan data already available to it.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment an in-aircraft system that implements a flight planning module is provided. The flight planning module is configured to display on the display unit a pending flight plan and implement a first button associated with a display of the pending flight plan. The first button, if selected, directs the one or more processing units to convert the pending flight plan to a format for sending in a datalink message, and to cause the pending flight plan to be sent to a ground station in a downlink datalink message without human input to a message applications module, the message applications module including instructions to display information corresponding to datalink messages on a display unit and to maintain a message log of datalink messages.