Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying a location reference indicator (LRI) associated with an ownship icon are provided. In various embodiments, an airport moving map (AMM) is displayed, and the ownship icon is displayed in the AMM, where the ownship icon represents the ownship. A degree of zoom of the AMM is determined. In response to a determination that the degree of zoom is not within a range of center referenced threshold values, a first LRI is displayed that indicates that the icon representing the ownship is not to scale with other objects displayed in the AMM. In response to a determination that the degree of zoom is within the range of center referenced threshold values, a second LRI is displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying a location reference indicator (LRI) associated with an ownship icon are provided. In various embodiments, an airport moving map (AMM) is displayed, and the ownship icon is displayed in the AMM, where the ownship icon represents the ownship. A degree of zoom of the AMM is determined. In response to a determination that the degree of zoom is not within a range of center referenced threshold values, a first LRI is displayed that indicates that the icon representing the ownship is not to scale with other objects displayed in the AMM. In response to a determination that the degree of zoom is within the range of center referenced threshold values, a second LRI is displayed.

Abstract: In some examples, a processor is configured to control a ground obstacle collision alerting system of an aircraft to deactivate delivery of ground obstacle collision alerts in response to determining the aircraft is in a designated ground area. In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the aircraft is in the designated ground area based on user input, based on a geographic location of the aircraft, or both. The processor is further configured to control the ground obstacle collision alerting system to automatically reactivate the delivery of the ground obstacle collision alerts in response to determining the aircraft is outside of the designated ground area. In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the aircraft is outside of the designated ground area based on a geographic location of the aircraft, a ground speed of the aircraft, or both.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the crew of a vehicle with a potential collision alert. The alert is based on presumed flight-crew action and reaction times, ownship speed, and required distance to safely stop the ownship before intersection with traffic. An exemplary system located aboard an ownship includes a communication device that receives information from a ground traffic; a memory device that stores ownship information and predefined constants; and a processing device that determines a distance to the traffic when the traffic passes the ownship after the ownship stops at a estimated full-stop location, based on the received ownship information and the predefined constants, determines distance to the ground traffic vehicle, based on the determined point in time, and generates a potential collision alert if the determined distance is less than a predefined safe distance value. An exterior lighting device outputs a visual illumination after the potential collision alert is generated.

Abstract: In some examples, a processor is configured to control a ground obstacle collision alerting system of an aircraft to deactivate delivery of ground obstacle collision alerts in response to determining the aircraft is in a designated ground area. In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the aircraft is in the designated ground area based on user input, based on a geographic location of the aircraft, or both. The processor is further configured to control the ground obstacle collision alerting system to automatically reactivate the delivery of the ground obstacle collision alerts in response to determining the aircraft is outside of the designated ground area. In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the aircraft is outside of the designated ground area based on a geographic location of the aircraft, a ground speed of the aircraft, or both.

Abstract: A conduit (51) for a condensate removal pump is disclosed comprising a tubular member (47) having a profiled rim (53, 54) at a distal end, profiled such that only a portion of the rim lies in a plane located at the extreme distal end of the tubular member perpendicular to the axis of the tubular. A resilient membrane (52) which has a slit extends across the interior of the tubular member and is arranged to open, to allow water to pass, when water is drawn through the conduit. A combined sensor and suction tube assembly (50) is also disclosed comprising a tube (55), a self heating thermistor (56) coupled to the tube, and a relay means (69) to relay an operational parameter of the self heating thermistor, indicative of the presence of water, to a condensate removal pump. The combined sensor and suction tube assembly is sized to fit within a pipe having an inner diameter of 20 mm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying ownship deviation from assigned taxi-clearance in the area of taxiway intersection. An exemplary system provides alerts in the event of a significant deviation from the assigned clearance, but does not give unwanted alerts when the flight crew is performing normal turning maneuvers in the area of an intersection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting a flight crew if a taxiing collision condition exists. An exemplary system on a host vehicle determines one or more first protection zones around other vehicles on the ground based on the received information about the other vehicles, determines a second protection zone around the host vehicle based on the stored information about the host vehicle and the sensor information and generates an alert, if any of the first protection zones occupies at least a portion of the same geographic area as the second protection zone. The received information includes position, ground speed, vehicle type information and heading or track information. The protection zones include a width dimension that is based on vehicle size information, a base length dimension that is based on the size information, and a variable component of the length dimension that is based on the ground speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the crew of an airplane or vehicle with a potential traffic-threat alert. When the alert is triggered is based on presumed flight-crew action and reaction times, ownship speed, and required distance to safely stop the ownship before intersection with traffic. An exemplary system located aboard an ownship includes a communication device that receives information from a ground traffic; a memory device that stores ownship information and predefined constants; and a processing device that determines a distance to the traffic when the traffic passes the ownship after the ownship stops at an estimated full-stop location, based on the received ownship information and the predefined constants, determines distance to the ground traffic vehicle, based on the determined point in time, and generates a potential collision alert if the determined distance is less than a predefined safe distance value. An output device outputs the generated potential collision alert.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the crew of a vehicle with a potential collision alert. The alert is based on presumed flight-crew action and reaction times, ownship speed, and required distance to safely stop the ownship before intersection with traffic. An exemplary system located aboard an ownship includes a communication device that receives information from a ground traffic; a memory device that stores ownship information and predefined constants; and a processing device that determines a distance to the traffic when the traffic passes the ownship after the ownship stops at a estimated full-stop location, based on the received ownship information and the predefined constants, determines distance to the ground traffic vehicle, based on the determined point in time, and generates a potential collision alert if the determined distance is less than a predefined safe distance value. An exterior lighting device outputs a visual illumination after the potential collision alert is generated.

Abstract: A method and system are described for enhancing ground situational awareness to an aircrew via the display of an air traffic control ground clearance, including displaying a symbol for each stage of the clearance and highlighting each symbol when the aircraft occupies that stage. A stage is highlighted when the aircraft is to hold short of that stage. Additional highlights may be included as an alert.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying ownship deviation from assigned taxi-clearance in the area of taxiway intersection. An exemplary system provides alerts in the event of a significant deviation from the assigned clearance, but does not give unwanted alerts when the flight crew is performing normal turning maneuvers in the area of an intersection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting a flight crew if a taxiing collision condition exists. An exemplary system on a host vehicle determines one or more first protection zones around other vehicles on the ground based on the received information about the other vehicles, determines a second protection zone around the host vehicle based on the stored information about the host vehicle and the sensor information and generates an alert, if any of the first protection zones occupies at least a portion of the same geographic area as the second protection zone. The received information includes position, ground speed, vehicle type information and heading or track information. The protection zones include a width dimension that is based on vehicle size information, a base length dimension that is based on the size information, and a variable component of the length dimension that is based on the ground speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting to traffic proximity in the airport environment. Knowledge of the geographic position, speed, rate of change of speed, heading (or track-angle) and/or altitude of own-aircraft (or vehicle) and another, potentially conflicting aircraft (or vehicle) are used to calculate a predicted distance between the two aircraft (or vehicles) at given point of time in the future. If separation distance is predicted to be less than a predetermined acceptable value, then an alert message (aural, visual or both) is issued to the pilot or operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting to traffic proximity in the airport environment. Knowledge of the geographic position, speed, rate of change of speed, heading (or track-angle) and/or altitude of own-aircraft (or vehicle) and another, potentially conflicting aircraft (or vehicle) are used to calculate a predicted distance between the two aircraft (or vehicles) at given point of time in the future. If separation distance is predicted to be less than a predetermined acceptable value, then an alert message (aural, visual or both) is issued to the pilot or operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: A conduit (51) for a condensate removal pump is disclosed comprising a tubular member (47) having a profiled rim (53, 54) at a distal end, profiled such that only a portion of the rim lies in a plane located at the extreme distal end of the tubular member perpendicular to the axis of the tubular. A resilient membrane (52) which has a slit extends across the interior of the tubular member and is arranged to open, to allow water to pass, when water is drawn through the conduit. A combined sensor and suction tube assembly (50) is also disclosed comprising a tube (55), a self heating thermistor (56) coupled to the tube, and a relay means (69) to relay an operational parameter of the self heating thermistor, indicative of the presence of water, to a condensate removal pump. The combined sensor and suction tube assembly is sized to fit within a pipe having an inner diameter of 20 mm.

Abstract: Radar return processing systems and methods are operable to process radar information when an installation vehicle is operating in proximity to a surface area of interest. An exemplary embodiment reduces energy of an output pulse emitted from a radar system; receives a plurality of radar returns from a plurality of objects that reflect the reduced energy output pulses emitted from the radar system; determines a surface area of interest based upon at least a current location of the installation vehicle; and filters the radar returns generated by objects that are located outside of the surface area of interest. Optionally, some systems and methods may reduce a sweep range of an antenna from which the reduced energy output pulses are emitted.

Abstract: A method for determining a currently obtainable climb gradient of an aircraft by determining an estimated aircraft weight as a function of phase of flight, determining the current aircraft weight as a function of the current dynamic pressure, the unaccelerated lift of the aircraft, and the wing surface area of the aircraft during steady-state flight, updating said estimated aircraft weight as a function of the current aircraft weight, determining the current lift and drag coefficients of the aircraft, determining currently available aircraft thrust, and estimating a currently obtainable maximum climb gradient as a function of said thrust, current weight, current lift and drag coefficients.

Abstract: An aircraft terrain warning generator is provided having a terrain and obstacle warning envelope having a lower boundary formed according to the lesser of the current aircraft flight path angle and the obtainable climb gradient.

Abstract: An aircraft terrain warning generator is provided having a terrain and obstacle warning envelope having a lower boundary formed according to the lesser of the current aircraft flight path angle and the obtainable climb gradient.