Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting ground effects along a flight plan. The systems and methods provide a processor executed process including the steps: receiving a flight plan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft; receiving terrain and obstacles geospatial data for the flight plan from the database; determining weight of the VTOL aircraft along the flight plan; determining temperature of the environment along the flight plan; determining ground effect data along the flight plan based on the temperature and the weight; and generating one or more commands to control a system of the VTOL aircraft based on the ground effect data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for guiding a vertical takeoff and landing, VTOL, vehicle to an emergency landing zone. The systems and methods include determining, via at least one processor, candidate landing zone data by interrogating an emergency landing zone database based at least on VTOL vehicle location, the candidate landing zone data representing a list of candidate emergency landing zones. A target emergency landing zone is selected from the list of candidate emergency landing zones based at least on VTOL vehicle related issues including at least one of unanticipated yaw issues, ground effect issues and modified trend vector issues, thereby providing target emergency landing zone data. Guidance for the VTOL vehicle is determined based on the target emergency landing zone data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting ground effects along a flight plan. The systems and methods provide a processor executed process including the steps: receiving a flight plan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft; receiving terrain and obstacles geospatial data for the flight plan from the database; determining weight of the VTOL aircraft along the flight plan; determining temperature of the environment along the flight plan; determining ground effect data along the flight plan based on the temperature and the weight; and generating one or more commands to control a system of the VTOL aircraft based on the ground effect data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting ground effects along a flight plan. The systems and methods provide a processor executed process including the steps: receiving a flight plan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft; receiving terrain and obstacles geospatial data for the flight plan from the database; determining weight of the VTOL aircraft along the flight plan; determining temperature of the environment along the flight plan; determining ground effect data along the flight plan based on the temperature and the weight; based on the terrain and obstacles data, the ground effect data and the flight plan, predict where, along the flight plan, the VTOL aircraft will traverse a ground effect region, thereby providing prediction data; and generating one or more commands to control a system of the VTOL aircraft based on the prediction data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting ground effects along a flight plan. The systems and methods provide a processor executed process including the steps: receiving a flight plan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft; receiving terrain and obstacles geospatial data for the flight plan from the database; determining weight of the VTOL aircraft along the flight plan; determining temperature of the environment along the flight plan; determining ground effect data along the flight plan based on the temperature and the weight; based on the terrain and obstacles data, the ground effect data and the flight plan, predict where, along the flight plan, the VTOL aircraft will traverse a ground effect region, thereby providing prediction data; and generating one or more commands to control a system of the VTOL aircraft based on the prediction data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for guiding a vertical takeoff and landing, VTOL, vehicle to an emergency landing zone. The systems and methods include determining, via at least one processor, candidate landing zone data by interrogating an emergency landing zone database based at least on VTOL vehicle location, the candidate landing zone data representing a list of candidate emergency landing zones. A target emergency landing zone is selected from the list of candidate emergency landing zones based at least on VTOL vehicle related issues including at least one of unanticipated yaw issues, ground effect issues and modified trend vector issues, thereby providing target emergency landing zone data. Guidance for the VTOL vehicle is determined based on the target emergency landing zone data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for use of a magnetometer calibration (MAG-CAL) application to calibrate a magnetometer while an aircraft is in-flight including: generating a MAG-CAL calculated pattern based on a set of aircraft parameters for the in-air magnetometer calibration, the set of aircraft parameters at least comprise: speed, bank angle, altitude and position of the aircraft; generating a set of waypoints that define a calibration flight path corresponding to the MAG-CAL calculated pattern; Configuring the calibration flight path of the MAG-CAL calculated pattern to be part of the original flight path of the in-flight aircraft to enable the aircraft while flying the original flight to proceed in part on the calibration flight path corresponding to the MAG-CAL calculated pattern; and enabling the aircraft to deviate while in-flight from the original flight path to the calibration flight path to enable a sufficient level of calibration for accurate magnetometer operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for updating shared databases using blockchain technology. Methods comprise receiving aircraft data from a first user among a plurality of users; validating the received aircraft data; storing the validated aircraft data to the shared database; receiving a request for data from a second user among the plurality of users; and providing the validated aircraft data to the second user from the shared database.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for use of a magnetometer calibration (MAG-CAL) application to calibrate a magnetometer while an aircraft is in-flight including: generating a MAG-CAL calculated pattern based on a set of aircraft parameters for the in-air magnetometer calibration, the set of aircraft parameters at least comprise: speed, bank angle, altitude and position of the aircraft; generating a set of waypoints that define a calibration flight path corresponding to the MAG-CAL calculated pattern; Configuring the calibration flight path of the MAG-CAL calculated pattern to be part of the original flight path of the in-flight aircraft to enable the aircraft while flying the original flight to proceed in part on the calibration flight path corresponding to the MAG-CAL calculated pattern; and enabling the aircraft to deviate while in-flight from the original flight path to the calibration flight path to enable a sufficient level of calibration for accurate magnetometer operation.

Abstract: A method for computing drop zone data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method obtains, by a processor, current drop zone parameters for an air drop, during flight of the aircraft; receives, by the processor, changes to dynamic conditions associated with operation of the aircraft, wherein the dynamic conditions comprise at least one of wind speed, drop altitude, current temperature, angle of approach, aircraft speed, and number of stages of planned drop; calculates, by the processor, updated drop zone parameters, based on the current drop zone parameters and the changes to the dynamic conditions; and presents the updated drop zone parameters, via a display device.

Abstract: A method for computing drop zone data onboard an aircraft is provided. The method obtains, by a processor, current drop zone parameters for an air drop, during flight of the aircraft; receives, by the processor, changes to dynamic conditions associated with operation of the aircraft, wherein the dynamic conditions comprise at least one of wind speed, drop altitude, current temperature, angle of approach, aircraft speed, and number of stages of planned drop; calculates, by the processor, updated drop zone parameters, based on the current drop zone parameters and the changes to the dynamic conditions; and presents the updated drop zone parameters, via a display device.

Abstract: A method and system for alerting a pilot to a potential unanticipated LTE with simple intuitive symbology on the cockpit display is provided. The provided method and system evaluates rotorcraft airspeed, wind velocity, wind direction, and rotorcraft height above ground to predict several scenarios for LTE zones. The provided method and system overlays or superimposes simple intuitive symbology on the existing PFD and/or MFD to alert a pilot to a potential LTE.

Abstract: A method and system for alerting a pilot to a potential unanticipated LTE with simple intuitive symbology on the cockpit display is provided. The provided method and system evaluates rotorcraft airspeed, wind velocity, wind direction, and rotorcraft height above ground to predict several scenarios for LTE zones. The provided method and system overlays or superimposes simple intuitive symbology on the existing PFD and/or MFD to alert a pilot to a potential LTE.