Abstract: A system and method for autonomous distress tracking of an aircraft. An automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver is configured to transmit an automatic distress transmission. A system controller comprises a distress identifier that is configured to determine when the aircraft is in a distress condition. The system controller is configured to control the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver to transmit the automatic distress transmission in response to a determination that the aircraft is in the distress condition. The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver and the system controller are contained within a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomous distress tracking of an aircraft. An automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver is configured to transmit an automatic distress transmission. A system controller comprises a distress identifier that is configured to determine when the aircraft is in a distress condition. The system controller is configured to control the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver to transmit the automatic distress transmission in response to a determination that the aircraft is in the distress condition. The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast transceiver and the system controller are contained within a housing attached to the aircraft on an outside of the aircraft.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for deploying flight data from an aircraft. A bag is stored in a deflated state on the aircraft. The flight data is stored on a memory device coupled to the bag. The bag is inflated from the deflated state to the inflated state in response to a pressure level greater than a threshold pressure level to deploy the bag with the memory device coupled thereto from the aircraft.

Abstract: An example method for modifying a flight path of an aircraft includes receiving real time positioning estimates for an aircraft, receiving an actual navigation performance (ANP) of the aircraft informative of uncertainty in the position estimate, receiving a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure for the aircraft, receiving spacing input from an air traffic controller that indicates spacing requirements between the aircraft and one or more other aircraft, receiving information relating to communities underneath the flight path, calculating, by a system onboard the aircraft, a modification to the flight path to be flown by the aircraft that causes the aircraft to remain within the containment boundaries of the RNP instrument flight procedure while reducing noise impact to the communities underneath the flight path and meeting the spacing requirements of the air traffic controller, and displaying a visual representation of a modified flight path for the aircraft.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for deploying flight data from an aircraft. A bag is stored in a deflated state on the aircraft. The flight data is stored on a memory device coupled to the bag. The bag is inflated from the deflated state to the inflated state in response to a pressure level greater than a threshold pressure level to deploy the bag with the memory device coupled thereto from the aircraft.

Abstract: An example method for aircraft traffic spacing and timing control with flight path variation of an aircraft includes receiving information of aircraft traffic for an area, determining an aircraft spacing plan for the aircraft traffic for the area based on spacing requirements due to separation standards or flow management constraints for the aircraft traffic, determining that a modification to a flight path of an aircraft is required to meet a longitudinal spacing requirement between the aircraft and one or more additional aircraft of the aircraft traffic based on the aircraft spacing plan, determining a flight path modification to the flight path for the aircraft based on the modification that causes the aircraft to remain within associated margins of the RNP instrument flight procedure and alters the longitudinal spacing between the aircraft and the additional aircraft of the aircraft traffic, and assigning the flight path modification to the aircraft via a data communication link.

Abstract: An example method for flight path variation of an aircraft for noise management includes receiving noise inquiries of a community related to aircraft noise during flight over the community, receiving an output from noise sensors positioned within the community, determining a noise distribution plan for additional aircraft flying over the community so as to steer the additional aircraft and distribute additional aircraft noise in response to the noise inquiries and the output from the noise sensors, and based on flight path data of the additional aircraft and the noise distribution plan, assigning a flight path modification to aircraft via a data communication link. The flight path modification informs the aircraft to adjust the flight path to remain within associated margins of a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure and to reduce noise impact to the community underneath the flight path.

Abstract: An example method for modifying a flight path of an aircraft includes receiving real time positioning estimates for an aircraft, receiving an actual navigation performance (ANP) of the aircraft informative of uncertainty in the position estimate, receiving a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure for the aircraft, receiving spacing input from an air traffic controller that indicates spacing requirements between the aircraft and one or more other aircraft, receiving information relating to communities underneath the flight path, calculating, by a system onboard the aircraft, a modification to the flight path to be flown by the aircraft that causes the aircraft to remain within the containment boundaries of the RNP instrument flight procedure while reducing noise impact to the communities underneath the flight path and meeting the spacing requirements of the air traffic controller, and displaying a visual representation of a modified flight path for the aircraft.

Abstract: An example method for modifying a flight path of an aircraft includes receiving real time positioning estimates for an aircraft, receiving an actual navigation performance (ANP) of the aircraft informative of uncertainty in the position estimate, receiving a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure for the aircraft, receiving spacing input from an air traffic controller that indicates spacing requirements between the aircraft and one or more other aircraft, receiving information relating to communities underneath the flight path, calculating, by a system onboard the aircraft, a modification to the flight path to be flown by the aircraft that causes the aircraft to remain within the containment boundaries of the RNP instrument flight procedure while reducing noise impact to the communities underneath the flight path and meeting the spacing requirements of the air traffic controller, and displaying a visual representation of a modified flight path for the aircraft.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and aircraft tracker system for reporting state information for an aircraft. A state of the aircraft is identified using sensor data received from an aircraft sensor system in the aircraft. The state information is transmitted at a reporting rate set using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data, at least one of a crew command or a ground command when at least one of the crew command is received from a crew interface or the ground command is received from a ground source, and a policy defining priorities for reporting that are based on at least one of the crew command, the ground command, or the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data.

Abstract: An example method for flight path variation of an aircraft for noise management includes receiving noise inquiries of a community related to aircraft noise during flight over the community, receiving an output from noise sensors positioned within the community, determining a noise distribution plan for additional aircraft flying over the community so as to steer the additional aircraft and distribute additional aircraft noise in response to the noise inquiries and the output from the noise sensors, and based on flight path data of the additional aircraft and the noise distribution plan, assigning a flight path modification to aircraft via a data communication link. The flight path modification informs the aircraft to adjust the flight path to remain within associated margins of a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure and to reduce noise impact to the community underneath the flight path.

Abstract: An example method for aircraft traffic spacing and timing control with flight path variation of an aircraft includes receiving information of aircraft traffic for an area, determining an aircraft spacing plan for the aircraft traffic for the area based on spacing requirements due to separation standards or flow management constraints for the aircraft traffic, determining that a modification to a flight path of an aircraft is required to meet a longitudinal spacing requirement between the aircraft and one or more additional aircraft of the aircraft traffic based on the aircraft spacing plan, determining a flight path modification to the flight path for the aircraft based on the modification that causes the aircraft to remain within associated margins of the RNP instrument flight procedure and alters the longitudinal spacing between the aircraft and the additional aircraft of the aircraft traffic, and assigning the flight path modification to the aircraft via a data communication link.

Abstract: An example method for modifying a flight path of an aircraft includes receiving real time positioning estimates for an aircraft, receiving an actual navigation performance (ANP) of the aircraft informative of uncertainty in the position estimate, receiving a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure for the aircraft, receiving spacing input from an air traffic controller that indicates spacing requirements between the aircraft and one or more other aircraft, receiving information relating to communities underneath the flight path, calculating, by a system onboard the aircraft, a modification to the flight path to be flown by the aircraft that causes the aircraft to remain within the containment boundaries of the RNP instrument flight procedure while reducing noise impact to the communities underneath the flight path and meeting the spacing requirements of the air traffic controller, and displaying a visual representation of a modified flight path for the aircraft.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and aircraft tracker system for reporting state information for an aircraft. A state of the aircraft is identified using sensor data received from an aircraft sensor system in the aircraft. The state information is transmitted at a reporting rate set using the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data, at least one of a crew command or a ground command when at least one of the crew command is received from a crew interface or the ground command is received from a ground source, and a policy defining priorities for reporting that are based on at least one of the crew command, the ground command, or the state of the aircraft identified from the sensor data.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer program product for monitoring vehicle compliance with a vehicle operating instruction provided by a traffic controller. A spoken vehicle operating instruction is translated into a computer-readable instruction that can be used for data entry and/or retrieval. The computer-readable instruction is transformed into an expected vehicle operating trajectory by mapping to a published vehicle procedure or by calculating a trajectory based on provided instructions. The vehicle is monitored as it operates. In the event the monitored operation differs or is forecast to differ from conformance limits associated with the expected trajectory, an alert can be provided.

Abstract: A control system for maximizing performance of an electronically scanned, mechanically augmented phased array (MAPA) antenna. In one preferred form, the control system forms a closed loop system which monitors a signal quality of the received signal from a primary signal source such as a primary satellite, and generates motor control signals for controlling a motor used to rotate the MAPA antenna about an axis so as to point the antenna at least slightly away from the primary signal source while electronically steering the antenna to track the primary signal source. The MAPA antenna is positioned so as to maximize the carrier-to-noise-plus-interference (CNI) ratio, and thus minimize the influence of interfering signal sources operating within a coverage region of the MAPA antenna.