Reduced-Flap Takeoff and Landing Advice for Runway Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft systems lack effective methods and displays for advising flight crews on reduced flaps takeoff and landing, which can increase efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and minimize noise disturbance.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that provide reduced flaps takeoff and landing advice by calculating and presenting takeoff and landing performance parameters for various flap configurations and runways, allowing flight crews to select optimal settings through a user interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full flaps deployment is used during landing, then landing safety and stability are improved, but drag increases requiring more thrust and fuel consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelanding safetyVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates and presents performance parameters for multiple flap configuration options (different camber angles), allowing the flight crew to select an optimal setting that balances safety with reduced drag and fuel consumption during approach and climb phases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If full flaps deployment is used during landing, then landing stability is improved, but noise disturbance near airports increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelanding stabilityVSAvoidnoise disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides performance data for various flap configurations, enabling the flight crew to select reduced flaps settings that maintain adequate landing stability while significantly reducing noise generation during approach and operation near airports

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If reduced flaps configuration is used during takeoff, then fuel consumption is reduced, but takeoff performance and safety may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidtakeoff safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of takeoff and landing performance parameters for multiple flap configurations before flight operations, allowing the flight crew to make informed decisions about reduced flaps takeoff by reviewing calculated data on takeoff speed, distance, and other critical parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system presents calculated performance parameters to the flight crew, providing feedback that enables them to assess whether reduced flaps configuration will meet safety requirements while achieving fuel savings, allowing informed decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Loss of energy

If reduced flaps configuration is used during landing, then drag is reduced and fuel consumption decreases, but landing performance parameters must be carefully managed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidperformance parameter management
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates all relevant landing performance parameters (reference speed, required runway length, factored runway length, wind gust factors) for reduced flaps configurations in advance, presenting them to the flight crew so that performance management is simplified rather than complicated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4209419B1Systems and methods for providing reduced flaps takeoff and landing advice
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4209419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4209419B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4209419B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and systems for providing reduced flaps takeoff or landing advice in an aircraft. The methods and systems include a display device and a processor in operable communication with the display device. The processor is configured to execute program instructions. The program instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive takeoff or landing performance data including weather data and runway conditions data for a plurality of runways at a destination aerodrome, calculate values of takeoff or landing performance parameters for a plurality of flap configurations for each of the plurality of runways, and present, on the display device, at least one of the values of takeoff or landing performance parameters.