Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for inhibiting surface information to a operator are disclosed. An image generator receives navigation data; retrieves surface data; generates and modifies an image data set as a function of the navigation data and the surface data; and provides the modified image data set to a display system. The image data set could be representative of a three-dimensional, egocentric perspective of a scene outside the vehicle comprised of a current surface and corresponding markings, and at least one intersecting surface and corresponding markings; the intersecting surface may be a surface intersecting the current surface. The image data set may be modified by inhibiting the visibility of the intersecting surface markings for each intersecting surface falling within the image modification area. An intersecting surface may fall within the image modification area if the intersecting surface overlaps a boundary of the image modification area.

Abstract: Extended runway systems and methods include generating a runway centerline that extends from a start point on the runway to an endpoint located at a predefined distance from the start point. One or more distance markers are also calculated for the runway centerline. Display data is provided to an electronic display that causes the display to show the runway centerline and the one or more distance markers.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating surface data are disclosed. An image generator is configured to receive navigation data; retrieve first surface data representative of a plurality of elevations; retrieve second surface data representative of location and elevation information (and possibly dimensions and the locations of at least one surface feature) of at least one reference point; determine shading data as a function of the first surface data; modify the first surface data as a function of the second surface data; and generate image data as a function of the modified first surface data and the shading data, where the image data is representative of a three-dimensional perspective of a scene outside a vehicle comprised of at least one flattened surface feature area having one elevation and to which the shading represented in the shading data is applied.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for enhancing an image presented to the pilot on an aircraft display unit. Locations of visible and invisible objects related to aviation such as airports, navigation aids and facilities, and airspace are enhanced by providing highlighter bands with location highlighters. Navigation data representative of aircraft navigation information is received, and location data representative of the location of at least one object located outside the aircraft is retrieved based upon the navigation data. An image generating processor generates an image data set as a function of highlighter data associated with the location data, where the image data set is representative of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image in which each object is enhanced with location highlighter and/or highlighter band of. The image data set may be provided to a tactical display unit, a strategic display unit, or both for display.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial methods for presenting taxi information to a pilot are disclosed. Each method may generate an image data set from taxi information data and navigation reference and object data. A first image data set may be representative of an image in which one or more first location highlighter(s) highlighting the location(s) of one or more raised surface feature(s) appears within an egocentric or exocentric three-dimensional representation of a scene located outside the aircraft. A second image data set may be representative of an image in which one or more unconventional surface feature(s) highlighting the location(s) of one or more raised surface feature(s) appears within an egocentric or exocentric three-dimensional representation of a scene located outside the aircraft. A third image data set may be representative of an image in which one or more unconventional surface feature(s) appears within an airport surface map.