Abstract: A flight display system for providing a visualization of an assumed lateral and vertical flight path on an avionic display for an aircraft performing energy management during an approach procedure, and methods for producing the same. The system improves upon available human-machine interfaces (HMI) by providing information not otherwise available; that being, a visualization of an assumed lateral and vertical flight path to assist the flight crew in making adjustments to the configuration of the aircraft when the aircraft is making an approach to an airport.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting a stabilized approach to a destination by presenting an energy state associated with an aircraft with respect to a target energy state for the stabilized approach. One method involves providing a graphical indication of a targeted energy state at a first position, a second graphical indication of a current energy state at a second position, and a third graphical indication of a configuration change at a third position. The distance with respect to a reference axis between the first position and the second position corresponds to a difference between a target parameter value associated with the targeted energy state and a current parameter value associated with the current energy state, and while a second distance between the first position and the third position with respect to the reference axis corresponds to an estimated amount of time before the configuration change.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting a stabilized approach to a destination by presenting an energy state associated with an aircraft with respect to a target energy state for the stabilized approach. One method involves providing a graphical indication of a targeted energy state at a first position, a second graphical indication of a current energy state at a second position, and a third graphical indication of a configuration change at a third position. The distance with respect to a reference axis between the first position and the second position corresponds to a difference between a target parameter value associated with the targeted energy state and a current parameter value associated with the current energy state, and while a second distance between the first position and the third position with respect to the reference axis corresponds to an estimated amount of time before the configuration change.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: A system and method for an improved aircraft information display is provided. The provided embodiments integrate and analyze relevant data from on-board and external sources to render airport availability and suitability information on the aircraft information display. The airport availability and suitability information displayed on the aircraft information display incorporates links between related information, is intuitively arranged on the aircraft information display, and dynamically updates responsive to changes in data and to user interaction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented flight display system including a computer processor that is capable of determining a current energy situation of an aircraft, an electronic display device, and a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on the electronic display device. The GUI includes a current aircraft position symbol, an optimal aircraft position symbol, and at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration. Relative positioning on the GUI of the optimal aircraft position system and the at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration is based at least in part on the determined current energy situation of the aircraft.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting an on-duty operator of the need to transfer operational control to an off-duty operator includes processing first and second physiological and activity data from the on-duty operator and the off-duty operator, respectively. The processor compares the fatigue state of the on-duty operator to a predetermined fatigue state threshold, and the rest state of the off-duty operator to a predetermined rest state threshold. The processor will generate an alert signal indicating that the on-duty operator should transfer operational control to the off-duty operator when (i) the fatigue state of the on-duty operator exceeds the predetermined fatigue state threshold or (ii) the rest state of the off-duty operator exceeds the predetermined rest state threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting an on-duty operator of the need to transfer operational control to an off-duty operator includes processing first and second physiological and activity data from the on-duty operator and the off-duty operator, respectively. The processor compares the fatigue state of the on-duty operator to a predetermined fatigue state threshold, and the rest state of the off-duty operator to a predetermined rest state threshold. The processor will generate an alert signal indicating that the on-duty operator should transfer operational control to the off-duty operator when (i) the fatigue state of the on-duty operator exceeds the predetermined fatigue state threshold or (ii) the rest state of the off-duty operator exceeds the predetermined rest state threshold.

Abstract: A flight display system and method for generating a flight display. A method for generating a flight display includes determining a position of an aircraft with reference to an airport, calculating a distance required for the aircraft to decelerate and descend for entering a final approach gate of the airport in a stabilized configuration, comparing the position of the aircraft with the distance required for the aircraft to decelerate and descend, and generating a flight display comprising an advisory based on a result of the comparing. A flight display system includes a database, an electronic display device, and a computer processor. The database and the electronic display device are in operable communication with the computer processor for displaying the flight display on the electronic display device.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a communication channel and displaying information. A signal is received via the communication channel and signal information is extracted from the signal. The signal information is monitored for a predetermined indicator. Selected information is extracted from the signal information when the predetermined indicator is detected in the signal information and then displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for an improved aircraft information display is provided. The provided embodiments integrate and analyze relevant data from on-board and external sources to render airport availability and suitability information on the aircraft information display. The airport availability and suitability information displayed on the aircraft information display incorporates links between related information, is intuitively arranged on the aircraft information display, and dynamically updates responsive to changes in data and to user interaction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of a vehicle to intersect a stabilized approach to a destination. One exemplary method of assisting an aircraft for landing at an airport involves obtaining, from a system onboard the aircraft, a current position of the aircraft and a current velocity of the aircraft, determining a descent strategy for the aircraft from the current position to an initialization point for a stable approach to the airport based at least in part on the current position and the current velocity, and providing indication of the descent strategy on a display device. The descent strategy is determined based on one or more validation criteria associated with the initialization point so that one or more predicted values for one or more characteristics of the aircraft satisfy the one or more validation criteria at the initialization point.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a communication channel and displaying information. A signal is received via the communication channel and signal information is extracted from the signal. The signal information is monitored for a predetermined indicator. Selected information is extracted from the signal information when the predetermined indicator is detected in the signal information and then displayed.

Abstract: An aircraft system includes a processing unit configured to receive navigation data and notice to airmen (NOTAM) information and to generate display signals based on the navigation data and the NOTAM information. The system further includes a display device coupled to the processing unit and configured to render an image according to the display signals with a first area depicting a navigation display based on the navigation data and a second area depicting a list of NOTAM text messages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented flight display system including a computer processor that is capable of determining a current energy situation of an aircraft, an electronic display device, and a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on the electronic display device. The GUI includes a current aircraft position symbol, an optimal aircraft position symbol, and at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration. Relative positioning on the GUI of the optimal aircraft position system and the at least one symbol indicating a position for changing aircraft configuration is based at least in part on the determined current energy situation of the aircraft.

Abstract: Aircraft systems and methods for detecting non-compliant pilot action are provided. The method includes analyzing an outbound communication from an aircraft to recognize a word or phrase corresponding to a parameter associated with a prior request for pilot action. If the word or phrase is recognized, the method further includes storing data corresponding to the outbound communication in a data storage device. The stored data and pilot action taken are compared to determine if there is a discrepancy between the pilot action and the stored data. A discrepancy alert is outputted if the discrepancy is determined to exist. A predetermined time interval is timed from the outbound communication. A timeout alert is outputted at a timeout of the predetermined time interval unless the requested pilot action is taken within the predetermined time interval.