Procedure Turn Display System for IFR Altitude and Distance Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face high workload and complexity in executing procedure turns during instrument flight rules (IFR) due to the need to manually monitor and compare aircraft altitude and distance with published minimum safe altitude and maximum safe distance criteria, often requiring reference to cumbersome and confusing printed charts.
Innovation Solution
A graphical display system on an aircraft's display device that indicates whether the aircraft is within the designated altitude and distance criteria for a procedure turn, providing visual and audio alerts when boundaries are approached or exceeded, allowing pilots to easily monitor compliance without needing to manually orient charts or use multiple navigation aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pilots manually monitor and compare aircraft altitude and distance with published minimum safe altitude and maximum safe distance criteria using printed charts, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to the need to reference cumbersome charts and use multiple navigation aids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an electronic copy of the printed approach chart information, displaying minimum safe altitude and maximum safe distance criteria on an electronic display device. This electronic copy replaces the physical printed charts, making the information more accessible and easier to monitor while maintaining the same safety standards and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple navigation aids and monitoring functions into a single integrated system. The flight management system consolidates altitude monitoring, distance monitoring, and procedure turn guidance into one unified display, eliminating the need to separately reference multiple navigation aids and printed charts.
2Measurement precision
If pilots use multiple navigation aids and printed charts to monitor procedure turn criteria, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity increases due to the need to coordinate multiple sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple navigation aids and monitoring functions into a single integrated flight management system. The system consolidates altitude monitoring, distance monitoring, and procedure turn guidance into one unified display, eliminating the need to separately reference multiple navigation aids and printed charts.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight management system performs multiple functions through a single integrated platform: it displays approach chart information, monitors altitude relative to minimum safe altitude, tracks distance relative to maximum safe distance, and provides procedure turn guidance. This multi-functional system replaces several separate devices and references.
3Measurement precision
If pilots manually orient printed charts based on current aircraft heading, then measurement precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the manual rotation and positioning required
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic display dynamically adjusts the orientation of the approach chart information based on the aircraft's current heading. Unlike static printed charts that require manual rotation, the electronic display automatically reorients the displayed information to match the aircraft's attitude, making it continuously easy to read without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the orientation adjustment automatically without pilot intervention. The flight management system monitors aircraft heading and self-adjusts the display orientation accordingly, eliminating the manual labor required to rotate and position printed charts while maintaining accurate spatial reference.
4Measurement precision
If pilots reference printed approach plates for procedure turn information, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of time increases due to the need to locate and interpret chart information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an electronic copy of the approach chart information that is displayed on an electronic display device within the aircraft's flight management system. This electronic copy is immediately accessible during flight operations, eliminating the time required to locate and interpret printed charts while maintaining the same accurate procedure turn criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The approach chart information is pre-loaded into the flight management system before the flight. This preliminary action allows the information to be readily available and immediately accessible during the procedure turn, eliminating the need to search for or interpret printed charts in real-time.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for displaying visually distinguishing characteristics if an aircraft is below a minimum altitude or beyond a maximum distance when executing a procedure turn. A procedure turn icon, an aircraft icon indicating the aircraft's present location, terrain/obstacles, and the visually distinguishing characteristics are displayed on a moving map.