Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for providing real-time holding and diversion information to a pilot of an aircraft. In one aspect, the pilot uses an electronic flight bag (EFB) or a flight management computer (FMC) to display in a GUI the holding and diversion information. For example, the EFB can receive ADS-B data that can be used to determine the location of the aircraft in the holding queue (i.e., the aircraft's queue position) and predict the amount of time before the aircraft will be able to land. The EFB or FMC can also display diversion information regarding one or more alternate locations (e.g., alternate airports) in the GUI. In one aspect, the EFB or FMC calculate a bingo fuel and the time until reaching the bingo fuel and the pilot must divert.

Abstract: A system and a method include a first communication system onboard an aircraft and a control unit having one or more processors that determine that one or more ambient conditions require a de-icing event of the aircraft, determine a location of the aircraft, and a status of one or more systems of the aircraft. The first communication system establishes a bi-directional communication link with a second communication system of a de-icing system. The first communication system receives one or more command messages from the second communication system indicating a status of the de-icing event.

Abstract: A system includes one or more control units configured to determine one or more fuel consumption models for an aircraft. A method includes determining, by one or more control units, one or more fuel consumption models for an aircraft. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause one or more control units comprising a processor, to perform operations including determining one or more fuel consumption models for an aircraft.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for informed de-icing by identifying a travel time range for an aircraft from a de-icing station to a runway; identifying a holdover window based on predicted weather conditions during the travel time range; estimating a takeoff time for the aircraft based on a takeoff queue for the runway and the travel time range; and in response to the holdover window expiring before the estimated takeoff time, delaying the aircraft from de-icing. In some aspects, informed de-icing includes, in response to identifying an aircraft scheduled for de-icing within a caution threshold of a scheduled takeoff time and to determining that a push time cannot be delayed: evaluating an effect of repeating a de-icing operation for the aircraft on flight operations; and in response to the effect exceeding an impact threshold: rescheduling the de-icing operation for the aircraft based on a new takeoff time.

Abstract: A system and a method include a control unit configured to determine one or more fuel levels for an aircraft at one or more arrival airports for one or more alternate flight plans that divert from an original flight plan. The control unit is configured to determine the one or more fuel levels based on traffic at the one or more arrival airports, and performance data for the aircraft.

Abstract: A method of supporting taxi operation of an aircraft with multiple engines is provided. The method includes receiving information indicating a predicted duration of a taxi operation of a flight of the aircraft and weather conditions at the airport and determining whether a reduced-engine taxi operation (RETO) of the aircraft is permitted based on the predicted taxi duration and the weather conditions. When RETO is permitted, the method further includes determining a fuel savings of RETO in which at least a portion of the taxi operation is performed with less than all of the engines running, relative to a normal taxi operation in which the taxi operation is performed with all of the engines running and outputting a recommendation of RETO or normal taxi operation to a display device onboard the aircraft, the recommendation of RETO when the fuel savings is at least a given minimum fuel savings.

Abstract: A system and method for determining which engine of an aircraft to start first for a taxiing operation and/or for estimating a total amount of fuel needed by the aircraft for conducting the taxiing operation includes receiving or accessing historical fuel usage data for each of the first and second engines, receiving or accessing taxiway information, determining which of the first and second engines to start before the other based on optimizing one or more predetermined factors, and producing a first-to-start alert indicating which of the first and second engines is a first-to-start engine. An engine use plan may be determined, the total amount of fuel needed for executing the taxiing operation may be estimated, and a fuel-estimate indication may be produced.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for an aircraft at an airport surrounded by an environment, the aircraft having a first engine and a second engine wherein the second engine is to be started after the first engine. The system and method are configured for determining a minimum amount of warm-up time needed for starting the second engine to meet predetermined start-up requirements for the second engine, based on one or more of engine-related information relating to the second engine, aircraft-related information relating to the aircraft, airport-related information relating to the airport, and environment-related information relating to the environment, and producing an alert based on the minimum amount of warm-up time needed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for providing real-time holding and diversion information to a pilot of an aircraft. In one aspect, the pilot uses an electronic flight bag (EFB) or a flight management computer (FMC) to display in a GUI the holding and diversion information. For example, the EFB can receive ADS-B data that can be used to determine the location of the aircraft in the holding queue (i.e., the aircraft's queue position) and predict the amount of time before the aircraft will be able to land. The EFB or FMC can also display diversion information regarding one or more alternate locations (e.g., alternate airports) in the GUI. In one aspect, the EFB or FMC calculate a bingo fuel and the time until reaching the bingo fuel and the pilot must divert.

Abstract: A system and a method include a rerouting control unit configured to generate one or more reroute options for an aircraft based on an analysis of a current position of the aircraft, a predicted future position of the aircraft, a current position of an in-flight hazard, a predicted future position of the in-flight hazard, and one or both of: (i) a flight path of one or more other aircraft within an airspace, or (ii) one or both of a minimum amount of fuel of the aircraft or a minimum weight of the aircraft at a destination location.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a turbulence management system for providing suggestions to a pilot that mitigate the effects of turbulence. These suggestions can be output to the pilot using an EFB. As mentioned above, an EFB can be communicatively coupled to a FMS such that the EFB has access to the data in the FMS. From the pilot's interactions with the FMS, the EFB can identify the pilot's intent such as landing, taking off, plotting a course change, changing altitude, maintaining a cruising altitude, etc. Once the intent is known, the EFB can output a suggestion to the pilot that satisfies the intent, but mitigates the harmful effects of turbulence. In one aspect, this suggestion is generated using the flight plant and aircraft metrics available from the FMS.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method. The method includes receiving a data structure being a network having nodes linked by links. The nodes have corresponding classes representing corresponding distinct notices to airmen (NOTAMs). The nodes are linked such that any given node is linked to at least one other node. The links represent corresponding pre-determined mathematical degrees of relevance between pairs of linked nodes. The links point from a corresponding less relevant node to a corresponding more relevant node. The nodes are pre-ranked in a prioritized order according to the pre-determined mathematical degree of relevance. The method also includes receiving a request to display the NOTAMs on a display device. The method also includes retrieving the NOTAMs associated with the nodes in the prioritized order. The method also includes commanding the NOTAMS to be displayed on the display device in the prioritized order.

Abstract: A method of supporting taxi operation of an aircraft with multiple engines is provided. The method includes receiving information indicating a predicted duration of a taxi operation of a flight of the aircraft and weather conditions at the airport and determining whether a reduced-engine taxi operation (RETO) of the aircraft is permitted based on the predicted taxi duration and the weather conditions. When RETO is permitted, the method further includes determining a fuel savings of RETO in which at least a portion of the taxi operation is performed with less than all of the engines running, relative to a normal taxi operation in which the taxi operation is performed with all of the engines running and outputting a recommendation of RETO or normal taxi operation to a display device onboard the aircraft, the recommendation of RETO when the fuel savings is at least a given minimum fuel savings.

Abstract: An aircraft arrival determination system includes an arrival sequence determination unit that is configured to determine a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport. A landing suggestion unit is configured to provide a landing suggestion for the aircraft. The landing suggestion provides information related to landing at the destination airport or diverting from the destination airport to an alternate airport.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method. The method includes receiving a data structure being a network having nodes linked by links. The nodes have corresponding classes representing corresponding distinct notices to airmen (NOTAMs). The nodes are linked such that any given node is linked to at least one other node. The links represent corresponding pre-determined mathematical degrees of relevance between pairs of linked nodes. The links point from a corresponding less relevant node to a corresponding more relevant node. The nodes are pre-ranked in a prioritized order according to the pre-determined mathematical degree of relevance. The method also includes receiving a request to display the NOTAMs on a display device. The method also includes retrieving the NOTAMs associated with the nodes in the prioritized order. The method also includes commanding the NOTAMS to be displayed on the display device in the prioritized order.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for informed de-icing by identifying a travel time range for an aircraft from a de-icing station to a runway; identifying a holdover window based on predicted weather conditions during the travel time range; estimating a takeoff time for the aircraft based on a takeoff queue for the runway and the travel time range; and in response to the holdover window expiring before the estimated takeoff time, delaying the aircraft from de-icing. In some aspects, informed de-icing includes, in response to identifying an aircraft scheduled for de-icing within a caution threshold of a scheduled takeoff time and to determining that a push time cannot be delayed: evaluating an effect of repeating a de-icing operation for the aircraft on flight operations; and in response to the effect exceeding an impact threshold: rescheduling the de-icing operation for the aircraft based on a new takeoff time.

Abstract: An aircraft management system and method includes a flight plan diversion prediction system including a rerouting control unit that is configured to generate one or more reroute options for an aircraft based on an analysis of a current position of the aircraft, a predicted future position of the aircraft, a current position of an in-flight hazard, and a predicted future position of the in-flight hazard.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing an indication that a received vehicle operation instruction can be performed is provided. During operation of a vehicle a vehicle operation instruction is received and at least one vehicle performance parameter to perform the vehicle operation instruction is calculated. Then, a determination is made as to whether the calculated at least one vehicle performance parameter exceeds performance limitations of the vehicle. If at least one performance parameter exceeds a performance limitation, then a first alert is generated and output.

Abstract: An aircraft arrival determination system includes an arrival sequence determination unit that is configured to determine a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport. A landing suggestion unit is configured to provide a landing suggestion for the aircraft. The landing suggestion provides information related to landing at the destination airport or diverting from the destination airport to an alternate airport.

Abstract: An aircraft management system and method includes a flight plan diversion prediction system including a rerouting control unit that is configured to generate one or more reroute options for an aircraft based on an analysis of a current position of the aircraft, a predicted future position of the aircraft, a current position of an in-flight hazard, and a predicted future position of the in-flight hazard.