Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for determining a flight plan. An example method includes determining one or more potential flight plans from an originating location to a destination location, each potential flight plan comprising a different combination of one or more flight plan segments forming a potential flight plan from the originating location to the destination location. The method further includes calculating a projected cost for each of the one or more potential flight plans wherein the projected cost is based at least in part on dynamic cost data, dynamic navigation data, or a combination thereof. The method further includes determining an optimal flight plan from among the one or more potential flight plans, the optimal flight plan having a lowest aggregate cost of the calculated projected costs associated with each of the one or more potential flight plans.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for determining a flight plan. An example method includes determining one or more potential flight plans from an originating location to a destination location, each potential flight plan comprising a different combination of one or more flight plan segments forming a potential flight plan from the originating location to the destination location. The method further includes calculating a projected cost for each of the one or more potential flight plans wherein the projected cost is based at least in part on dynamic cost data, dynamic navigation data, or a combination thereof. The method further includes determining an optimal flight plan from among the one or more potential flight plans, the optimal flight plan having a lowest aggregate cost of the calculated projected costs associated with each of the one or more potential flight plans.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: A method for providing aircraft descent data and approach data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method determines a safe descent area bounded by an outer boundary region, by a processor communicatively coupled to a system memory element, based on an optimum glideslope angle, variable glideslope data, and a continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition; and presents graphical elements associated with the safe descent area, the optimum glideslope angle, and the outer boundary region, by a display device communicatively coupled to the processor.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: A method for providing mode data during operation of a Flight Management System (FMS) using a Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Autopilot Mode, is provided. When the FMS has disengaged a Lateral Navigation (LNAV) Autopilot Mode, the method detects a changed aircraft position indicating divergence from a flight path, wherein the changed aircraft position comprises a current aircraft position; calculates a future aircraft position for VNAV Autopilot Mode disengagement, based on the changed aircraft position, a predicted cross-track error, and the divergence from the flight path; and presents the changed aircraft position and the future aircraft position when operating in the VNAV Autopilot Mode, via a display device. When the future aircraft position is not on the flight path, the method disengages the VNAV Autopilot Mode, based on the changed aircraft position and the future aircraft position; calculates a descent path for the aircraft, after disengagement; and presents the descent path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting trailing aircraft about conditions experienced by a leading aircraft are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include an aircraft lighting system, which includes at least one external aircraft light and a memory module configured to store at least one criterion associated with an aircraft parameter. The systems and methods further include a receiver module operably connected to the memory module which is configured to receive an aircraft parameter. The systems and methods also include a processor module operably connected to the memory module, the receiver module and the at least one external aircraft light, the processor being configured to compare the received aircraft parameter to the stored at least one criterion and is further configured to determine, on the basis of the comparison, whether to cause illumination of the at least one external aircraft light for observance by trailing aircraft.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring conformance of an aircraft to an actual and predicted 4-dimensional (4D) trajectory with respect to a reference business trajectory (RBT). First, a flight plan for the aircraft is acquired from an onboard flight management system (FMS) computer. A predicted flight trajectory is generated based on the latitude, longitude, altitude, speed and time of the flight plan for the aircraft. An onboard trajectory conformance monitor that is independent of the FMS computer, monitors the present flight trajectory of the aircraft and anticipates any actual or future deviations from the RBT. The trajectory conformance monitor will generate an advisory of any actual or anticipated deviations from the RBT.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting trailing aircraft about conditions experienced by a leading aircraft are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include an aircraft lighting system, which includes at least one external aircraft light and a memory module configured to store at least one criterion associated with an aircraft parameter. The systems and methods further include a receiver module operably connected to the memory module which is configured to receive an aircraft parameter. The systems and methods also include a processor module operably connected to the memory module, the receiver module and the at least one external aircraft light, the processor being configured to compare the received aircraft parameter to the stored at least one criterion and is further configured to determine, on the basis of the comparison, whether to cause illumination of the at least one external aircraft light for observance by trailing aircraft.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to display systems in the flight deck of an aircraft, and also to methods for providing such displays. More particularly, the displays and methods of the present disclosure are configured to integrate airport surface lighting information with information received from multiple air traffic control (ATC) communication channels, for purposes of increasing aircrew situational awareness and preventing runway incursions.

Abstract: A method for providing aircraft descent data and approach data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method determines a safe descent area bounded by an outer boundary region, by a processor communicatively coupled to a system memory element, based on an optimum glideslope angle, variable glideslope data, and a continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition; and presents graphical elements associated with the safe descent area, the optimum glideslope angle, and the outer boundary region, by a display device communicatively coupled to the processor.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods for executing a command in an autonomous vehicle are provided, including the steps of: generating at least three independent vehicle data-sets; transmitting the at least three independent vehicle data-sets to at least three command determination modules, respectively; and, at each one of the at least three command determination modules, using the respective received vehicle data-set to determine a command. The method further includes the step of, during a monitoring phase, comparing the commands to each other to determine if any one of these commands is desynchronized from the other commands. If a command is determined to be desynchronized from the other commands during the monitoring phase, the method includes the step of excluding the command determination module which determined the desynchronized command.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring conformance of an aircraft to an actual and predicted 4-dimensional (4D) trajectory with respect to a reference business trajectory (RBT). First, a flight plan for the aircraft is acquired from an onboard flight management system (FMS) computer. A predicted flight trajectory is generated based on the latitude, longitude, altitude, speed and time of the flight plan for the aircraft. An onboard trajectory conformance monitor that is independent of the FMS computer, monitors the present flight trajectory of the aircraft and anticipates any actual or future deviations from the RBT. The trajectory conformance monitor will generate an advisory of any actual or anticipated deviations from the RBT.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods for executing a command in an autonomous vehicle are provided, including the steps of: generating at least three independent vehicle data-sets; transmitting the at least three independent vehicle data-sets to at least three command determination modules, respectively; and, at each one of the at least three command determination modules, using the respective received vehicle data-set to determine a command. The method further includes the step of, during a monitoring phase, comparing the commands to each other to determine if any one of these commands is desynchronized from the other commands. If a command is determined to be desynchronized from the other commands during the monitoring phase, the method includes the step of excluding the command determination module which determined the desynchronized command.

Abstract: A method for providing mode data during operation of a Flight Management System (FMS) using a Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Autopilot Mode, is provided. When the FMS has disengaged a Lateral Navigation (LNAV) Autopilot Mode, the method detects a changed aircraft position indicating divergence from a flight path, wherein the changed aircraft position comprises a current aircraft position; calculates a future aircraft position for VNAV Autopilot Mode disengagement, based on the changed aircraft position, a predicted cross-track error, and the divergence from the flight path; and presents the changed aircraft position and the future aircraft position when operating in the VNAV Autopilot Mode, via a display device. When the future aircraft position is not on the flight path, the method disengages the VNAV Autopilot Mode, based on the changed aircraft position and the future aircraft position; calculates a descent path for the aircraft, after disengagement; and presents the descent path.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a current state and a future state of a vehicle on a display associated with the vehicle are provided. The method includes: receiving flight plan data for a selected flight plan and a plurality of legs associated with the selected flight plan from a source of flight plan data; determining, with a processor, a current state of the vehicle with respect to one of the plurality of legs based on sensor data; determining, with the processor, a current target state for the vehicle with respect to one of the plurality of legs based on the flight plan data; determining a divergence of the current state based on a difference between the current state and the current target state; and generating a user interface for display that illustrates the divergence of the current state with respect to the one of the plurality of legs.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to display systems in the flight deck of an aircraft, and also to methods for providing such displays. More particularly, the displays and methods of the present disclosure are configured to integrate airport surface lighting information with information received from multiple air traffic control (ATC) communication channels, for purposes of increasing aircrew situational awareness and preventing runway incursions.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a current state and a future state of a vehicle on a display associated with the vehicle are provided. The method includes: receiving flight plan data for a selected flight plan and a plurality of legs associated with the selected flight plan from a source of flight plan data; determining, with a processor, a current state of the vehicle with respect to one of the plurality of legs based on sensor data; determining, with the processor, a current target state for the vehicle with respect to one of the plurality of legs based on the flight plan data; determining a divergence of the current state based on a difference between the current state and the current target state; and generating a user interface for display that illustrates the divergence of the current state with respect to the one of the plurality of legs.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises receiving aircraft data from one or more aircraft components; displaying on a user interface the aircraft data and at least one interactive display element associated with an autopilot control function; receiving user input based on an interaction with the at least one interactive display element; and selectively changing an appearance of the at least one interactive display element based on the user input.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises receiving aircraft data from one or more aircraft components; displaying on a user interface the aircraft data and at least one interactive display element associated with an autopilot control function; receiving user input based on an interaction with the at least one interactive display element; and selectively changing an appearance of the at least one interactive display element based on the user input.