Abstract: A method in a trail aircraft for monitoring the separation distance between the trail aircraft and a lead aircraft during a flight deck interval management paired approach (FIM-PA) procedure is provided. The method includes: receiving an assigned spacing goal (ASG); receiving traffic information regarding the lead aircraft that indicates the position, heading and ground velocity of the lead aircraft; retrieving a predetermined tolerance limit and traffic information regarding the trail aircraft that indicates the position, heading and ground velocity of the trail aircraft; setting a range limit that is at least as great as the absolute limit indicated by the ASG plus the tolerance limit; monitoring the range and ground speed differential between the lead aircraft and the trail aircraft; and generating a caution alert indicator when a monitored condition detected from monitoring the range and ground speed differential indicates a potential problem.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for generating aircraft cabin control commands from verbal speech onboard an aircraft. An audio command supplied to an audio input device is processed. Each word of the processed audio command is compared to words stored in a vocabulary map to determine a word type of each word. Each determined word type is processed to determine if an intent of the audio command is discernable. If the intent is discernable, an aircraft cabin control command is generated based on the discerned intent. If a partial intent is discernable, feedback is generated.