Automated In-Trail Procedures Display for Oceanic Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oceanic flight operations face limitations in flight level changes due to dense traffic and reduced surveillance performance, leading to increased pilot workload in manually preparing in-trail procedures (ITP) clearance requests, which are complex and require extensive analysis of ADS-B data for safe separation standards.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that selects valid target aircraft and generates clearance requests for flight level changes, utilizing a processor connected to ADS-B and TCAS systems to provide real-time data and feedback on ITP criteria compliance, reducing pilot workload through graphical and textual advisories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual preparation of ITP clearance requests is used, then pilot control and decision-making are maintained, but pilot workload increases and the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the flight management computer automatically performs ITP clearance request preparation by retrieving ADS-B data, evaluating separation criteria, and generating formatted clearance requests without requiring manual pilot intervention for each step, thereby reducing workload while maintaining safety through automated compliance checking
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically retrieving and analyzing ADS-B traffic data, pre-evaluating separation criteria against reference aircraft, and pre-formatting clearance requests before pilot review, allowing pilots to make informed decisions without manual data gathering and analysis
2Productivity
If automated system is implemented, then pilot workload is reduced and efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight management computer leverages existing multi-functional capabilities to handle ADS-B data reception, TCAS integration, performance data retrieval, and clearance request generation within a single integrated system, avoiding the need for separate dedicated hardware while achieving automated ITP processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring ADS-B traffic data, evaluating separation criteria compliance in real-time, and providing automated updates on clearance request status, ensuring safe operation while streamlining the overall process through systematic information flow
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for providing situational awareness on an in-trail procedures display. A display (30) is provided with visual identification and indication for aircraft that do not meet the ITP criteria. In the in-trail procedures display, feedback is provided when a pilot selects an invalid ITP flight level, unambiguous feedback is provided to the pilot upon selection of a valid flight level, and valid inter-target aircraft located in intervening flight levels after selection of a valid flight level are positively identified and invalid target aircraft for selection are uniquely identified.