Helideck Approach Display With Obstacle-Guided Flight Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face challenges in navigating helidecks due to surrounding obstacles and adverse weather conditions, which can interfere with helicopter takeoff and landing, and existing systems do not provide adequate situational awareness or path planning assistance.
Innovation Solution
A Helideck Flight Path Tool (HFPT) that uses an electronic processor to generate a graphical user interface with a compass ring and obstacle indicators, providing pilots with preferred approach and escape paths, and integrating with aircraft displays for enhanced situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pilots navigate helidecks without integrated obstacle visualization, then device complexity is reduced, but situational awareness and navigation safety deteriorate due to surrounding obstacles and adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple information sources (helideck data, obstacle information, approach path data, escape path data) into a single integrated graphical user interface displayed on the portable computing device. This merging of previously separate systems provides comprehensive situational awareness while maintaining a unified, manageable display interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable computing device serves multiple functions: it displays helideck identification, obstacle locations, preferred approach paths, escape paths, and wind information. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate systems into a single universal device, improving safety without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If pilots rely on visual observation of obstacles, then device complexity is minimized, but measurement precision deteriorates in adverse weather and low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The portable computing device acts as an intermediary between the pilot and the physical environment. It receives and processes data about obstacles, helidecks, and flight paths, then presents this information in a processed, easily interpretable graphical format. This intermediary function provides precise obstacle detection information without requiring the pilot to directly sense the environment, overcoming limitations of visual observation in adverse conditions.
3Loss of information
If pilots plan approach paths without integrated wind and obstacle data, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases regarding critical flight parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges wind information, obstacle data, helideck characteristics, and flight path calculations into a single integrated display. This consolidation ensures that all critical flight parameters are available simultaneously to the pilot, eliminating information loss that would occur if these parameters were obtained from separate sources or required multiple reference materials.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and methods for a helideck approach path tool. One example system includes an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine a helideck identifier and retrieve, from a database storing data on a plurality of helidecks, helideck data corresponding to the helideck identifier. The helideck data includes a helideck azimuth and at least one obstacle characteristic. The electronic processor is configured to generate a graphical user interface including a helideck approach indicator object, which includes a compass ring, a graphical representation of the helideck aligned to the compass ring based on the helideck azimuth, and an obstacle indicator overlaid on the compass ring based on the at least one obstacle characteristic. The electronic processor is configured to present the graphical user interface on a display within the aircraft.