Abstract: A method of providing contextual display modes for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle including obtaining aircraft flight information including a current position and altitude; retrieving vertiport information for a vertiport at the current position of the aircraft; displaying, to one or more operators of the aircraft, a takeoff synthetic vision display mode; transitioning, as the current altitude approaches the transitional altitude, from the takeoff synthetic vision display mode to a cruise synthetic vision display mode, wherein the cruise synthetic vision display mode represents the view from a cruise display viewpoint at the current altitude of the aircraft and at the current position of the aircraft; and displaying, in response to the current altitude equaling or exceeding the transitional altitude, the cruise synthetic vision display mode.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises determining, by the processor, a first point along a flight path when a flight mode associated with a flight plan will be armed; determining, by the processor, a second point along the flight path when the flight mode associated with the flight plan will be engaged; determining, by the processor, a third point along the flight path when the flight mode associated with the flight plan will be disengaged; generating, by the processor, graphics data that represents the first point, the second point and the third point; incorporating, by the processor, the graphics data into a user interface that displays the flight path; and generating, by the processor, the user interface for display on the display device of the aircraft.

Abstract: A flight deck system and method in an aircraft for enhancing controller pilot datalink communication (CPDLC) operation is disclosed. The flight deck system includes a controller configured to: receive a CPDLC message having a CPDLC message type from a flight operation center (FOC) having an FOC name; retrieve an expected response time for the CPDLC message from an expected response time database containing expected response times for a plurality of CPDLC message types for FOCs; generate a timer function that causes the display of a timer (e.g., countdown timer) on an aircraft display device that has a set duration based on the expected response time; signal the aircraft display device to display the timer; monitor communications from flight crew for a response to the CPDLC message; and signal the aircraft display device to end the display of the timer when a communication has been detected within the set duration.

Abstract: Methods and system for alerting a Visual Decent Point (VDP) in an aircraft system. The methods and systems retrieve runway altitude data and Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) data from an avionics database for a target runway. Data in the avionics database for the target runway does not include a published VDP. The method includes calculating the VDP based on a difference between the runway altitude data and the MDA so as to achieve a target downward acceptable glidepath angle during final descent from the MDA to the target runway. The method includes outputting an alert of the VDP by an output device of the aircraft system.

Abstract: Methods and system for alerting a Visual Decent Point (VDP) in an aircraft system. The methods and systems retrieve runway altitude data and Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) data from an avionics database for a target runway. Data in the avionics database for the target runway does not include a published VDP. The method includes calculating the VDP based on a difference between the runway altitude data and the MDA so as to achieve a target downward acceptable glidepath angle during final descent from the MDA to the target runway. The method includes outputting an alert of the VDP by an output device of the aircraft system.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises determining, by the processor, a first point along a flight path when a flight mode associated with a flight plan will be armed; determining, by the processor, a second point along the flight path when the flight mode associated with the flight plan will be engaged; determining, by the processor, a third point along the flight path when the flight mode associated with the flight plan will be disengaged; generating, by the processor, graphics data that represents the first point, the second point and the third point; incorporating, by the processor, the graphics data into a user interface that displays the flight path; and generating, by the processor, the user interface for display on the display device of the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and representing traffic maneuvers are provided. The method includes receiving traffic information for a neighbor traffic. The method may use the neighbor traffic information to calculate a volume around the neighbor traffic, defined by min max thresholds related to the traffic information. The traffic information is monitored until the default time elapses, to thereby determine a delta latitudinal position, a delta longitudinal position, a delta altitude, a delta pitch, and a delta roll, of the neighbor traffic during the default time; and a traffic maneuver is identified upon the occurrence of one or more of (i) the delta latitudinal position exceeded the maximum latitudinal threshold, (ii) the delta longitudinal position exceeded the maximum longitudinal threshold, and (iii) the delta altitude exceeded the magnitude of the maximum altitude threshold. An enhanced symbolic indicator of the traffic maneuver is rendered on a map image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for instrument landing system (ILS) alerting. The method may include: receiving an ILS localizer signal and traffic information; monitoring a signal-quality of the received ILS signal; annunciating on a display system onboard the aircraft an impending ILS auto-pilot disconnect alert when the signal-quality is determined to have decreased by more than a threshold; associating the ILS signal with stored ILS antenna information to thereby construct a three-dimensional ILS envelope with a point of origination at a location of an ILS localizer; presenting a map showing the aircraft at a current location, and the runway; and, using the traffic information to monitor a location and movement of an intruder traffic and predict an infringement of the intruder traffic on the ILS envelope. Responsive to the predicted infringement, the method may annunciate an ILS alert and transmit a notification to air traffic control or the intruder traffic.

Abstract: Provided are technologically improved systems and methods for reducing controller-pilot data link (CPDLC) rejection ratio on an aircraft. The system is programmed to receive a user provided tentative CPDLC request. The system receives traffic data from an external traffic data source and data from a navigation system and a sensor system. The system predicts whether the tentative CPDLC request will be accepted by air traffic control (ATC), based on the received data. The system further predicts a potential delay time until the ATC will accept the tentative CPDLC request. The system additionally provides one or more alternative CPDLC requests and their potential delay times when the system has predicted that the tentative CPDLC request will be rejected. The system displays this information and receives user selections based thereon. Upon receiving a user selection, a CPDLC request is sent to ATC in accordance with a predicted delay time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting unmanned vehicles, such as drones, operating in the vicinity of a planned route of travel. One exemplary method involves displaying a graphical representation of a route for a vehicle on a display device onboard the vehicle, determining a range of an unmanned vehicle based on one or more signals associated with the unmanned vehicle, and displaying a graphical representation of the range of the unmanned vehicle on the display device when at least some of the range is within a threshold distance of the route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and representing traffic maneuvers are provided. The method includes receiving traffic information for a neighbor traffic. The method may use the neighbor traffic information to calculate a volume around the neighbor traffic, defined by min max thresholds related to the traffic information. The traffic information is monitored until the default time elapses, to thereby determine a delta latitudinal position, a delta longitudinal position, a delta altitude, a delta pitch, and a delta roll, of the neighbor traffic during the default time; and a traffic maneuver is identified upon the occurrence of one or more of (i) the delta latitudinal position exceeded the maximum latitudinal threshold, (ii) the delta longitudinal position exceeded the maximum longitudinal threshold, and (iii) the delta altitude exceeded the magnitude of the maximum altitude threshold. An enhanced symbolic indicator of the traffic maneuver is rendered on a map image.

Abstract: A method for providing emergency alerts onboard an aircraft is provided. The method obtains chart data associated with a current flight of the aircraft; extracts flight constraints from the chart data, wherein the flight constraints comprise restrictions for performing action items applicable to the current flight; compares the flight constraints to flight data associated with the current flight, the flight data comprising an approved flight plan, an estimated time of arrival, Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) data, flight plan restriction data, and onboard equipment failure; identifies at least one of the flight constraints that applies to the current flight, by the at least one processor, based on the comparing; and presents an alert associated with the at least one of the flight constraints.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for verifying a vehicle component. In various embodiments, a system for verifying a vehicle component may comprise a near-to-eye (NTE) display system that includes an NTE tracking controller, a controller communicatively coupled to the NTE tracking controller, and a component database communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller may be configured to receive component data from the component database and communicate the component data to the NTE tracking controller based upon focus data, where the focus data is based upon a head position of an operator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying object data within an airport moving map (“AMM”) are disclosed. In various embodiments, the systems may comprise an avionics database, a flight management system comprising a processor communicatively coupled to the avionics database, and/or a display communicatively coupled to the processor, the processor configured to receive AMM data from the avionics database, receive object data, and/or display the AMM, the AMM including an image of the object, the AMM further including an image of an area that may be obscured from a field of view of a pilot by the object.

Abstract: A method of evaluating pilot performance receives and processes avionics data at a database system. The database system computes component scores for the pilot based on the avionics data. Each component score represents a performance grade for a pilot-controlled operation of the aircraft. The database system saves the component scores in association with a pilot performance record for the pilot, and calculates an overall score based on the component scores. The overall score represents a flight performance grade for the pilot. The database system saves the overall score in association with the pilot performance record, and generates a report derived from the component scores and the overall score. A graphical representation of the report is communicated to an electronic device.

Abstract: A method for providing visual overlay assistance to a flight crew onboard an aircraft is provided. The method presents, via visual overlay device display, required settings for a plurality of flight deck instruments located in a flight deck onboard an aircraft, wherein the required settings are presented as graphical elements superimposed over each of the plurality of flight deck instruments.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the vertical situational awareness of a pilot of a host aircraft, comprises rendering symbology on a vertical situation display of the host aircraft, the symbology comprising (1) a traffic scenario including at least the host aircraft and a second aircraft, the second aircraft involved in an ITP transition, and (2) flight level allocation data assigned to the second aircraft by air traffic control.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for verifying a vehicle component. In various embodiments, a system for verifying a vehicle component may comprise a near-to-eye (NTE) display system that includes an NTE tracking controller, a controller communicatively coupled to the NTE tracking controller, and a component database communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller may be configured to receive component data from the component database and communicate the component data to the NTE tracking controller based upon focus data, where the focus data is based upon a head position of an operator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying object data within an airport moving map (“AMM”) are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing the ITP rejection ratio. After identifying a reference aircraft, the ITP criteria associated with the reference aircraft is evaluated. If the ITP transition time overlaps with a maneuver time of the reference aircraft, the ITP request is not transmitted. The flight plan of the reference aircraft is analyzed to detect an upcoming reference aircraft maneuver.