Abstract: The present disclosure provides for identifying common flight path portions for aircraft and determining, from various factors and variables, an improved flight plan to take advantage of the reduced aerodynamic interference offered in the wake of aircraft. These improved flight plans provide improvements in fuel efficiency to the aircraft, which can extend the range of the aircraft for a given fuel capacity, require less fuel over a given route, and allow for faster travel between two points, among other improvements to the underlying aircraft.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing a flight of an aircraft with at least one segment of formation flight. The method includes accessing flight plans for flights of a fleet, and transforming the flight plans into values of a set of features that describe segments of the flights. The values are applied to a machine learning model trained to predict the segment(s) during which the aircraft is within a region that includes at least one second aircraft of the fleet that is thereby capable of serving as a leading aircraft in the segment(s) of formation flight in which the aircraft is a trailing aircraft. A notification is sent to the aircraft of the segment(s) and the second aircraft capable of serving as the leading aircraft. And a second notification is sent to the second aircraft of the segment(s) and the aircraft capable of serving as the trailing aircraft.

Abstract: A method of optimizing flights of a fleet of aircraft is provided. The method includes accessing flight plans for flights of a fleet of aircraft through an air transportation network, and applying the flight plans to a reinforcement learning model configured to determine maneuvers for each aircraft on a respective flight that achieves a respective maximum cumulative value of an operational efficiency metric across the flights of the fleet of aircraft, one or more of the maneuvers constituting a deviation from a respective flight plan. A comparison of respective maximum cumulative values of the operational efficiency metric is performed for the aircraft of the fleet of aircraft, one of the aircraft is selected based on the comparison, and a notification of the deviation from the respective flight plan is sent to the one of the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining, prior to deployment of a landing assist device onboard an aircraft, the positions of potential landing sites for the aircraft. The positions of the potential landing sites are determined by a computer based at least in part on respective landing assist device deployment times and current wind data. The computed positions of potential landing sites are received by another computer or processor onboard that aircraft that is configured to control operation of a cockpit display unit within the field of view of the pilot. The display unit displays a map showing the respective positions of the aircraft at the respective landing assist device deployment times and the corresponding respective positions of the potential landing sites.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining, prior to deployment of a landing assist device onboard an aircraft, the positions of potential landing sites for the aircraft. The positions of the potential landing sites are determined by a computer based at least in part on respective landing assist device deployment times and current wind data. The computed positions of potential landing sites are received by another computer or processor onboard that aircraft that is configured to control operation of a cockpit display unit within the field of view of the pilot. The display unit displays a map showing the respective positions of the aircraft at the respective landing assist device deployment times and the corresponding respective positions of the potential landing sites.

Abstract: A system and method is described for minimizing the effects of a laser light flash in a cockpit area of an aircraft. At least one sensor is configured to detect a laser light flash of a predetermined color. At least one light source is mounted in the cockpit area and configured to output light of the predetermined color upon activation. Finally, a controller is coupled to the at least one sensor, the at least one light source, and a cockpit ambient light control circuit. The cockpit ambient light control circuit is configured to control an intensity output of cockpit ambient lighting. The controller is configured to activate the at least one light source and to cause the cockpit ambient light control circuit to turn off or dim the intensity output of the cockpit ambient lighting upon detection of a laser light flash of the predetermined color.