Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle such as an aircraft using a virtual cursor. One method involves identifying a displayed location of an active cursor overlying a first navigational map graphical user interface (GUI) display, determining a geographic reference point on the first navigational map GUI corresponding to the displayed location of the active cursor, determining a location for a virtual cursor to be displayed on a second navigational map GUI display corresponding to the geographic reference point on the first navigational map GUI display and concurrently displaying the virtual cursor at the determined location overlying the second navigational map.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of an aircraft when diverting from a flight plan using a comparative vertical profile display. A vertical profile display includes a first graphical representation of a first vertical profile corresponding to a first lateral route defined by a flight plan for the aircraft and a second graphical representation of a second vertical profile corresponding to a modified lateral route different from the first lateral route displayed concurrently on the vertical profile display. The first vertical profile corresponding to the first lateral route is depicted on the vertical profile display in a first plane and the second vertical profile corresponding to the modified lateral route is depicted on the vertical profile display in a second plane different from the first plane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying the operational parameters of a radio system located onboard an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a permanent radio display bar that shows an active radio frequency in use by the radio system and a variable radio display pad. The variable radio display pad shows multiple historical past radio frequencies previously used by the radio system and multiple predicted future radio frequencies for use along a flight plan of the aircraft. It includes a change command that allows a crew member to manually change the active radio frequency in the permanent radio display bar.

Abstract: A switching system comprises a three-way radio switch for an onboard radio system. The radio switch includes a manual standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency input by a user; an automated standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency automatically input by the system; and an active frequency switch that shows a currently selected frequency. The active frequency switch receives and displays the frequency from the manual standby frequency switch, or receives and displays the frequency from the automated standby frequency switch. A processor is operative to monitor frequencies of the radio system in real-time; compare the frequencies of the radio system with frequencies from a database containing regional radio frequencies; trigger an alert when the frequencies of the radio system do not match the frequencies from the database; and send an updated standby radio frequency to the automated standby frequency switch.

Abstract: A system for displaying the effect of a change in Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) broadcast. The system comprises a receiver module configured to receive at least two ATIS broadcasts and a parsing module operably connected to the receiver module and configured to parse the received at least two ATIS broadcasts into at least two corresponding sets of ATIS messages. The system includes a comparison module operably connected to the parsing module and configured to compare the at least two sets of ATIS messages to determine if a disparity exists between the at least two sets of ATIS messages. The system includes a display module; and a processor module operably connected to the comparison module and the display module, the processor module being configured to cause the display module to display an alert when it is determined that a disparity exists between the at least two sets of ATIS messages.

Abstract: A system for ordering flight crew tasks during flight of an airborne vehicle is provided. The system includes one or more processors configured by programming instructions encoded on non-transient computer readable media. The system is configured to: retrieve a current ordering of a plurality of flight crew tasks across a flight profile and task context data; retrieve current flight data including: targets and constraints, progress and state of each required checklist, airspace dynamics information, environmental conditions, the time of day and year, and aircraft state information which includes the current automation and configuration state; retrieve airborne vehicle operator preferences; analyze the retrieved current ordering of flight crew tasks and task context data, current flight data, and operator preferences to predict a flight crew task saturation period; and re-order the current ordering of the plurality of flight crew tasks to reduce the occurrence of task saturation periods.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic from-waypoint updating includes determining when a flight plan has been received that includes rendering a lateral map image that includes an aircraft icon and a flight leg to be captured. A variable position user input device supplies a signal representative of its position. A processor processes the signal from the variable position user input device and commands a display device to render a trajectory line graphic that (a) extends from the aircraft icon in a direction that corresponds to the position of the variable user input device and (b) intersects the at least one flight leg to be captured. The flight plan is automatically updated to designate the waypoint at the start of the at least one flight leg as a from-waypoint.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying the operational parameters of a radio system located onboard an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a permanent radio display bar that shows an active radio frequency in use by the radio system and a variable radio display pad. The variable radio display pad shows multiple historical past radio frequencies previously used by the radio system and multiple predicted future radio frequencies for use along a flight plan of the aircraft. It includes a change command that allows a crew member to manually change the active radio frequency in the permanent radio display bar.

Abstract: A switching system comprises a three-way radio switch for an onboard radio system. The radio switch includes a manual standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency input by a user; an automated standby frequency switch that receives and displays a standby frequency automatically input by the system; and an active frequency switch that shows a currently selected frequency. The active frequency switch receives and displays the frequency from the manual standby frequency switch, or receives and displays the frequency from the automated standby frequency switch. A processor is operative to monitor frequencies of the radio system in real-time; compare the frequencies of the radio system with frequencies from a database containing regional radio frequencies; trigger an alert when the frequencies of the radio system do not match the frequencies from the database; and send an updated standby radio frequency to the automated standby frequency switch.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting a waypoint list graphical user interface display on a display device associated with a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The waypoint list graphical user interface display comprises a waypoint list region including a plurality of waypoints, wherein an entry for a currently selected waypoint maintains a fixed position on the waypoint list graphical user interface display while the waypoints scroll with respect to the entry to adjust the currently selected waypoint within a flight plan for an aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft flight control system and method are provided. The system provides a control module that receives inertial data, sensor data, and a target airspeed. The control module processes the received data with aircraft thrust and drag models to evaluate the aircraft energy state. Based on the aircraft energy state, the control module determines (i) a maximum predicted potential flight path “max PPFP”, defined by a maximum thrust at the target airspeed, and (ii) an idle predicted potential flight path, “idle PPFP,” defined by an idle thrust at the target airspeed. The control module generates display commands for a display system to display (i) the flight path angle, (ii) the max PPFP and (iii) the idle PPFP. In addition, the control module generates and displays a predicted flight path speed indicator (PFPS) when the FPA is above the max PPFP or below the idle PPFP.

Abstract: A connected instrument procedure placekeeping system includes a navigation database, a flight deck display, a flight deck processor, and an electronic device. The flight deck processor is in operable communication with the navigation database and the flight deck display and selectively retrieves flight plan data from the navigation database. The flight deck processor causes the flight deck display to render images of an instrument procedure. The electronic device is in operable communication with the flight deck processor and simultaneously renders an image of a published representation of the instrument procedure. One of either the flight deck processor or the electronic device is responsive to user input signals to highlight a waypoint and its associated constraint and the other of the electronic device or the flight deck processor simultaneously highlights the waypoint and its associated constraint for ease of comparison.

Abstract: An aircraft flight control system and method are provided. The system provides a control module that receives inertial data, sensor data, and a target airspeed. The control module processes the received data with aircraft thrust and drag models to evaluate the aircraft energy state. Based on the aircraft energy state, the control module determines (i) a maximum predicted potential flight path “max PPFP”, defined by a maximum thrust at the target airspeed, and (ii) an idle predicted potential flight path, “idle PPFP,” defined by an idle thrust at the target airspeed. The control module generates display commands for a display system to display (i) the flight path angle, (ii) the max PPFP and (iii) the idle PPFP. In addition, the control module generates and displays a predicted flight path speed indicator (PFPS) when the FPA is above the max PPFP or below the idle PPFP.

Abstract: A contextual awareness system for an aircraft and a method from controlling the same are provided. The aircraft, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a touch screen display, a memory configured to store rules defining a relationship between a plurality of data fields, and a processor configured to determine when a data field displayed on the touch screen display is selected, determine at least one data field which is related to the selected data field based upon the rules defining the relationship between a plurality of data fields, generate display data for the touch screen display, the display data comprising a virtual keyboard and a contextual awareness display area, the contextual awareness display area displaying the selected field and the at least one data field which is related to the selected data, and update the selected data field based upon input from the virtual keyboard.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic from-waypoint updating includes determining when a flight plan has been received that includes rendering a lateral map image that includes an aircraft icon and a flight leg to be captured. A variable position user input device supplies a signal representative of its position. A processor processes the signal from the variable position user input device and commands a display device to render a trajectory line graphic that (a) extends from the aircraft icon in a direction that corresponds to the position of the variable user input device and (b) intersects the at least one flight leg to be captured. The flight plan is automatically updated to designate the waypoint at the start of the at least one flight leg as a from-waypoint.

Abstract: A connected instrument procedure placekeeping system includes a navigation database, a flight deck display, a flight deck processor, and an electronic device. The flight deck processor is in operable communication with the navigation database and the flight deck display and selectively retrieves flight plan data from the navigation database. The flight deck processor causes the flight deck display to render images of an instrument procedure. The electronic device is in operable communication with the flight deck processor and simultaneously renders an image of a published representation of the instrument procedure. One of either the flight deck processor or the electronic device is responsive to user input signals to highlight a waypoint and its associated constraint and the other of the electronic device or the flight deck processor simultaneously highlights the waypoint and its associated constraint for ease of comparison.

Abstract: A system and method provides aircraft autoflight capability feedback to aircraft pilots to thereby prevent, or at least inhibit, latent errors of omission that may result in operational errors. The system and method uses graphics that communicate subtly and in the background, in a manner that naturally fits with how the visual cortex processes graphical information and how the mind makes quick, and subconscious judgments about information. The system may also use auditory and tactile feedback.

Abstract: A flight deck timer management system includes a database storing conditions representing a first monitoring mode defining at least a first rule, a first timing characteristic defining a first time period for compliance with the first rule, and a first advisory value relative to the first time period at which a first advisory is initiated. A control unit is configured to identify input states based on the input data, and to evaluate the input states in view of the first monitoring mode conditions. When the input states trigger the first monitoring mode, the control unit evaluates the input states in view of the first rule, initiates a first timer based on the first timing characteristic, monitors a first timing status of the first timer relative to the first advisory value, and generates display commands representing the first advisory when the first timer status reaches the first advisory value.

Abstract: A vehicle system and method are provided. The system includes a processor configured to compare received data representative of a current attitude with predetermined bank, nose up, and nose down values to determine that an occurrence of unusual attitude is currently underway. Upon determining that an occurrence of unusual attitude conditions is currently underway, the system and method generate display signals that command and control a display system to render roll angle alert symbology. The roll angle alert symbology includes a tracing arrowhead that more clearly shows the direction to recover from unusual attitude conditions. Based in part on the tracing nature of the arrowhead, provided technological improvements are observable on display systems that are monochrome, as well as those with color. In various embodiments, color attributes and confining the dynamic tracing performed by the arrowhead more clearly inform a pilot of the roll recovery direction to recover from unusual attitude conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle system and method are provided. The system includes a processor configured to compare received data representative of a current attitude with predetermined bank, nose up, and nose down values to determine that an occurrence of unusual attitude is currently underway. Upon determining that an occurrence of unusual attitude conditions is currently underway, the system and method generate display signals that command and control a display system to render roll angle alert symbology. The roll angle alert symbology includes a tracing arrowhead that more clearly shows the direction to recover from unusual attitude conditions. Based in part on the tracing nature of the arrowhead, provided technological improvements are observable on display systems that are monochrome, as well as those with color. In various embodiments, color attributes and confining the dynamic tracing performed by the arrowhead more clearly inform a pilot of the roll recovery direction to recover from unusual attitude conditions.