Abstract: A method for generating an air traffic control (ATC) request is provided. The method includes receiving input on at least one of an onboard graphical display avionics device or an offboard avionics device to request a change to a current flight parameter based on an active state of the aircraft, generating an air traffic control request, on one of the onboard graphical display avionics device or the offboard avionics device, based on the input using an air traffic control interface application, presenting, on one of the onboard graphical display avionics device or the offboard avionics device, the generated air traffic control request; and when the air traffic control request is approved to be sent, passing the generated air traffic control request to an air traffic control application on a communications management unit (CMU), Communications Management Function (CMF) or a flight management system (FMS).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating programs for aircraft training. For example, a method may include: determining a first type of aircraft for which a user is to be trained; determining, based on profile data of the user, one or more other types of aircraft on which the user has been trained; selecting, from a plurality of training modules, a training module including content providing training on a difference between the first type of aircraft and one of the one or more other types of aircraft or training on a topic on which a training module is unavailable for each one of the one or more other types of aircraft; generating a training program including the selected training module; and presenting the training program to the user.

Abstract: An adaptive system in an aircraft for presenting speed and altitude recommendations for supersonic flight on an aircraft display unit is provided. The system is configured to: predict, based on received aircraft sensor inputs from on board aircraft sensors, an optimum speed and altitude profile while flying in a supersonic phase of flight between a plurality of waypoints for the current aircraft model, wind conditions, and mission; and determine using a SONIC boom prediction model whether the optimum speed and altitude profile would cause an acceptable BOOM effect per a predefined BOOM effect threshold limit during flight between the plurality of waypoints, wherein a BOOM effect is a perceived sound level on land due to unrestricted supersonic flight over land, and wherein a BOOM effect threshold limit is an acceptable perceived sound level on land due to supersonic flight over land.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for an Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) flight evaluation. One system may include a dispatcher flight tracker application configured to integrate with one or more data services, in order to predict possible alternate airports and real-time aircraft fuel usage and plan for an ETOPS operation during flight. The dispatcher flight tracker application may present the ETOPS flight evaluation to both the dispatcher and aircraft crew.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for automatic flight re-dispatch evaluation. For example, a system may include a dispatch flight tracker application with a flight management engine service to automatically evaluate one or more flight re-dispatch points by calculating an estimated amount of fuel remaining onboard an aircraft at the one or more flight re-dispatch points using fuel data of the aircraft and flight planning parameters.

Abstract: Provided are technologically improved adaptive ground safety lighting systems and related methods. The method includes receiving cockpit data providing a weight on wheels (WOW) indicator, an off-runway indicator, an engine off indicator, and an engine temperature, and receiving, from a connected-light assembly comprising a plurality of connected lighting edge nodes, a respective temperature measurement and wind measurement. Upon determining that there is a concurrent occurrence of (a) WOW indicator asserted, (b) off-runway indicator asserted, and (c) engine off indicator asserted, an environmental map around the aircraft is constructed, and a dissipation timer is started. A caution volume surrounding the engine is generated based on the heat dissipation factor of the engine and other received data, and the plurality of lighting edge nodes are illuminated in accordance with the caution volume.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing or requesting data for simulating avionics systems. For example, a method for providing data for simulating avionics systems may include: receiving, from a client device, a first message requesting information usable by the client device to simulate a functionality of an avionics system, the first message being in a web services data format; converting the first message to an avionics protocol data format to obtain a first converted message; providing the first converted message to a server application; receiving, from the server application, a second message including the requested information, the second message being in the avionics protocol data format; converting the second message to the web services data format to obtain a second converted message; and providing, to the client device, the second converted message.

Abstract: A method and system for providing cost data via an operating cost app for a flight associated with a flight plan, by a computing device including: obtaining cost data of the flight plan by executing the operating cost app to implement an operating cost integrator application integrated with the operating cost app to interface with a plurality of service providers for retrieving operating cost data of the flight plan from each of the service providers; obtaining, by the at least one processor, real-time aircraft performance parameters affecting the actual cost of the flight including: a landing time and a takeoff time; determining an actual cost of the flight by using software solutions of the operating cost app, and by calculating ground charges at the airport derived from the sensed data by the operating cost app and presenting the actual cost of the ground charge, via a display device for displaying.

Abstract: A communication system is provided. The communication system comprises a communication management unit (CMU) comprising a processor, a memory and an input/output port; wherein the processor is configured to run a distribution application operable to: when data is received from a ground system at the input/output port, transmit the data to a designated first device and transmit selected data of the data received at the input/output port to at least one designated second device; and when data is received from the first device or the second device, transmit the data to the other of the first and second device as well as an intended recipient of the data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing or requesting data for simulating avionics systems. For example, a method for providing data for simulating avionics systems may include: receiving, from a client device, a first message requesting information usable by the client device to simulate a functionality of an avionics system, the first message being in a web services data format; converting the first message to an avionics protocol data format to obtain a first converted message; providing the first converted message to a server application; receiving, from the server application, a second message including the requested information, the second message being in the avionics protocol data format; converting the second message to the web services data format to obtain a second converted message; and providing, to the client device, the second converted message.

Abstract: An embodiment of a communication management unit (CMU) includes emulator and data-mining circuits. The emulator circuit is configured to generate a data request having a same format as a data request from a vehicle communications center, to send the data request to a subsystem disposed on a vehicle, and to receive data sent by the subsystem in response to the data request. The data-mining circuit is configured to provide at least some of the received data to a determining circuit configured to determine information in response to the provided data. For example, such a CMU can request flight-plan data from a flight management subsystem (FMS) by sending, to the FMS, an emulated data-request message having the same format as a data-request message from a ground-based aircraft operations center. That is, the CMU can “fool” the FMS into “thinking” that the data-request message originated from the ground-based aircraft operations center.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying multiple element request datalink messages in avionics system are provided. A method includes generating a plurality of downlink message element information at a verify screen displayed by a display. The method further allows for the changing of at least one downlink message element information of the plurality of downlink message element information within the verify screen. Moreover, the method concatenates the plurality of downlink message element information after the changing of the at least one element information in preparation of generating a concatenating downlink message element information message to be downlinked.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for brokering data exchanges between on-board and off-board systems of a vehicle. One method comprises receiving, at a data broker engine, one or more data requests from an origination system, wherein each of the one or more data requests specifies at least one or more of a request type and a target system. Then the data broker engine determines whether the request type is a one-time transmission, a periodic transmission, an event-triggered transmission, or a change-triggered transmission. Following the determination, the data broker engine retrieves data from the target system based on the determined request type and transmits the data to the origination system.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable landing light circuit and method for an aircraft approaching a target are provided. The circuit includes a memory having therein an auto adjustable landing light program, and a processor operationally coupled to a source of real-time navigation data, a source of intended approach information, a source of target geometry, and a source of environmental information including cross-wind data. The processor executes the auto adjustable landing light program, to: determine a course correction, as a function of the cross-wind data, upon determining each occurrence of deviations exceeding respective thresholds for the current heading and an intended heading, the current pitch and an intended pitch, and the current yaw and an intended yaw. The processor generates control motor commands for a landing lights assembly that generates a landing light projection. The control motor commands adjust the landing light projection in accordance with each determined course correction.

Abstract: Enhanced landing light systems and methods are provided. The system determines that landing lights in a landing lights assembly are on and then proceeds to identify each of the following relevant contexts: landing, taxi, and takeoff. When the aircraft is in a relevant context, the system identifies an actual travelpath and determines whether the actual travelpath matches the intended travelpath. If it does, the system generates guidance information and begins projecting the guidance information onto a landing surface. The guidance information may be digital light and comprise alphanumeric information and symbology. When the actual travelpath does not match the intended travelpath, the system generates a guidance alert and begins projecting the guidance alert onto the landing surface.

Abstract: Enhanced landing light systems and methods are provided. The system determines that landing lights in a landing lights assembly are on and then proceeds to identify each of the following relevant contexts: landing, taxi, and takeoff. When the aircraft is in a relevant context, the system identifies an actual travelpath and determines whether the actual travelpath matches the intended travelpath. If it does, the system generates guidance information and begins projecting the guidance information onto a landing surface. The guidance information may be digital light and comprise alphanumeric information and symbology. When the actual travelpath does not match the intended travelpath, the system generates a guidance alert and begins projecting the guidance alert onto the landing surface.

Abstract: A method for providing landing lights operation data during a flight of an aircraft is provided. The method obtains a standard operating procedure (SOP) for operating landing lights onboard the aircraft during the flight, wherein the SOP comprises a customary industry-recommended practice for at least one of extension and retraction of the landing lights on the aircraft, and wherein execution of the SOP produces a flight efficiency level including at least fuel burn and drag parameters; determines an optimized operating procedure for the landing lights to increase the flight efficiency level to achieve an increased flight efficiency level, based on real-time contextual data; and presents an advisory comprising at least graphical elements associated with the optimized operating procedure, a potential cost savings for the optimized operating procedure, and the increased flight efficiency level onboard the aircraft, via a display device.

Abstract: A method for providing air traffic control (ATC) message data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method establishes communication connections to one or more aircraft onboard communication devices, wherein each of the one or more aircraft onboard communication devices is configured to provide the ATC message data using a particular format; obtains the ATC message data via the communication connections; aggregates the ATC message data, to create an aggregate set of ATC message data; presents a menu of user-selectable options based on an aircraft state, by a display device, wherein each of the user-selectable options is associated with a category of the aggregate set of ATC message data; receives a user input selection of one of the user-selectable options; and presents graphical elements and text associated with the category of the aggregate set of ATC message data, in response to the user input selection.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to save data from vehicle systems to a portable computing system. The method comprises: receiving a selection of information stored in at least one of: a communications management system, and at least one other vehicle system configured to be installed on a vehicle; receiving a selection to save the selected information with a portable computing system in the vehicle, where the portable computing system is configured to be removable from the vehicle; and sending the selected information to the portable computing system through a communications network, where the portable computing system is configured to save received, selected information in addition to or instead of sending the selected data to at least one of a printer in the vehicle and a storage device in the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting trailing aircraft about conditions experienced by a leading aircraft are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include an aircraft lighting system, which includes at least one external aircraft light and a memory module configured to store at least one criterion associated with an aircraft parameter. The systems and methods further include a receiver module operably connected to the memory module which is configured to receive an aircraft parameter. The systems and methods also include a processor module operably connected to the memory module, the receiver module and the at least one external aircraft light, the processor being configured to compare the received aircraft parameter to the stored at least one criterion and is further configured to determine, on the basis of the comparison, whether to cause illumination of the at least one external aircraft light for observance by trailing aircraft.