Abstract: An enhanced runway awareness system and method directed to reducing audible alerts during runway selection is provided. The runway awareness system includes a navigation system, an audio system, and a control module. The control module receives and processes, from the navigation system, aircraft state data and runway position and location data. The control module determines that (a) the aircraft is approaching a first runway, and commands the audio system to emit an approach alert associated with (a); subsequent to commanding the audio system to emit the approach alert associated with (a), the control module prohibits the audio system from emitting an “on runway” alert associated with (a) responsive to determining that (b) the aircraft is on the first runway.

Abstract: A composite material includes a metal material having conductivity and an oxidation inhibitor mixed with the metal material. The oxidation inhibitor forms a complex with the metal material to exert a resistance to oxidation of the metal material. For example, the composite material is formed on a surface of a base material as a plating material. As another example, the composite material is plated on a surface of an electrode.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring a landing approach of an aircraft. The method includes receiving instrument landing system (ILS) signals; determining a glideslope deviation from the ILS signals; disabling, when the glideslope deviation is less than a first predetermined threshold, at least one glideslope alert function; evaluating a current glideslope condition by comparing a designated glideslope angle to a glideslope check value; and re-enabling the at least one glideslope alert function when the glideslope check value differs from the designated glideslope angle by more than a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for intelligently alerting the flight crew of a cabin depressurization. An example system includes a cabin altimeter that generates a cabin pressure value, an alerting device, such as a speaker system and a processing device in data communication with the cabin altimeter and the alerting device. The processing device determines if there is a problem with the cabin pressure received from the cabin altimeter, determines rate of change of the cabin pressure, and sets at least one of an alert volume or an alert frequency based on the cabin pressure and the rate of change of the cabin pressure if it was determined that a problem exists with the cabin pressure. The processing device also issues a cabin depressurization alert over the alerting device based on at least one of the set alert volume or alert frequency, if there is a problem with the cabin pressure value.

Abstract: A system and method for passively detecting aircraft wingtip strikes includes generating a digital base map represented by a plurality of aerodrome cells. A numeric value representative of the specific wingtip is assigned to each of the aerodrome cells. An index count array is generated that has a separate entry for each numeric value. A digital aircraft structure representative of an aircraft is generated, and is represented by a plurality of aircraft cells. A determination is made as to whether a portion of the aerodrome cells are or would be replaced with the plurality of aircraft cells. Each numeric value of the aerodrome cells that are or would be replaced is counted to determine a replacement count associated therewith and that is entered into the separate entry in the index count array for that numeric value. One or more potential aircraft wingtip strikes are detected based on the replacement counts.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting a runway, comprises retrieving runway feature data and aircraft data including aircraft heading with respect to the bearing of first and second runways. Runway boundary envelopes are created for each of the first and second runways, each having a predetermined score. A total score for each of the first and second runways is compared to determine which of the runways is selected.

Abstract: A method for providing alerts or indications to an aircrew of an aircraft that is in-flight and approaching a destination airport includes receiving an aircrew runway selection from the aircrew of the aircraft, automatically generating a probable runway selection by the aircraft, and determining a position of the in-flight aircraft with reference to a threshold point. If the aircraft is prior to the threshold point, the method includes generating alerts and indications to the aircrew based solely on the received runway selection into the FMS from the aircrew of the aircraft and not on the automatically-generated probable runway selection from the aircraft. Alternatively, if the aircraft is past the threshold point, the method includes generating alerts and indications to the aircrew based solely on the automatically-generated probable runway selection from the aircraft and not on the received runway selection into the FMS from the aircrew of the aircraft.

Abstract: A vehicle heat pump air-conditioning system is provided, which is capable of securing a temperature linearity characteristic during dehumidifying heating, slowing progression of a frost formation on an exterior evaporator during heating, and stably continuing a heating operation while suppressing variations in a blowout temperature. In a cooling refrigeration cycle (14) becoming a base, an interior condenser (8) disposed in a HVAC unit (2) is connected to an exterior condenser (10) in parallel via switching means (15), an exterior evaporator (17) is connected to first decompression means (12) and an interior evaporator (7) in parallel via second decompression means (16), a heating heat pump cycle (18) is configured, the first decompression means (12) and the second decompression means (16) are on-off valve function attached decompression means (12, 16), and the exterior evaporator (17) and the interior evaporator (7) can be simultaneously used during dehumidifying heating and heating.

Abstract: A method for managing a premature descent envelope during descent of an aircraft is provided. The method receives glideslope deviation data by an instrument landing system (ILS) onboard the aircraft; compares, by the ILS, the glideslope deviation data to an acceptable band of glideslope deviation values; and when the glideslope deviation data is within the acceptable band, expands, by a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), the premature descent envelope to produce an increased premature descent envelope for the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving sink rate alerting for rotary wing aircraft. In one example, the system includes a radio altimeter that produces an altitude value, a processor that is in signal communication with the user interface device and the radio altimeter. The processor receives an altitude value, a position value for the aircraft and landing zone (LZ) information. The processor determines if the aircraft is on an approach to land at an LZ that is raised above surrounding terrain based on the received position value and LZ information. The processor receives sink rate information for the aircraft and generates a sink rate alert based on the received sink rate information and the aircraft altitude value if the sink rate information is greater than a sink rate value adjusted according to the LZ information. An output device outputs the generated sink rate alert. The LZ information includes an altitude value.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring a landing approach of an aircraft. The method includes receiving instrument landing system (ILS) signals; determining a glideslope deviation from the ILS signals; disabling, when the glideslope deviation is less than a first predetermined threshold, at least one glideslope alert function; evaluating a current glideslope condition by comparing a designated glideslope angle to a glideslope check value; and re-enabling the at least one glideslope alert function when the glideslope check value differs from the designated glideslope angle by more than a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for managing a premature descent envelope during descent of an aircraft is provided. The method receives glideslope deviation data by an instrument landing system (ILS) onboard the aircraft; compares, by the ILS, the glideslope deviation data to an acceptable band of glideslope deviation values; and when the glideslope deviation data is within the acceptable band, expands, by a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), the premature descent envelope to produce an increased premature descent envelope for the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for providing alerts or indications to an aircrew of an aircraft that is in-flight and approaching a destination airport includes receiving an aircrew runway selection from the aircrew of the aircraft, automatically generating a probable runway selection by the aircraft, and determining a position of the in-flight aircraft with reference to a threshold point. If the aircraft is prior to the threshold point, the method includes generating alerts and indications to the aircrew based solely on the received runway selection into the FMS from the aircrew of the aircraft and not on the automatically-generated probable runway selection from the aircraft. Alternatively, if the aircraft is past the threshold point, the method includes generating alerts and indications to the aircrew based solely on the automatically-generated probable runway selection from the aircraft and not on the received runway selection into the FMS from the aircrew of the aircraft.

Abstract: Embodiments of a flight deck display system deployed onboard an aircraft are provided, as are embodiments of a method carried-out by a flight deck display system. In one embodiment, the flight deck display system includes a cockpit display device and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) establish the speed trend of the aircraft over a predetermined time period; (ii) generate a primary flight display on the cockpit display device including a speed trend vector graphic representative of the established speed trend; and (iii) alter the appearance of the speed trend vector graphic in a first predetermined manner if a low speed change condition is detected during at least one of aircraft takeoff and landing.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for generating a low airspeed warning in an aircraft. This method creates a scale factor that is a factor of engine thrust and aircraft altitude. A low airspeed threshold is determined that varies according to the aircraft altitude with respect to a predetermined altitude band and the engine thrust with respect to a predetermined engine thrust band. A low airspeed alert is generated in response to the determination of the low airspeed threshold. This method provides a pilot with earlier knowledge of low airspeed conditions when the aircraft is in a target altitude band, increasing the pilot's response time and thereby enhancing overall aircraft safety.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting a helicopter pilot to an undesirable operating condition during landing operations are provided. Avionics data are supplied from an avionics data source. A controller coupled to receive at least a portion of the avionics data from the avionics data source is configured, upon receipt of the avionics data, to determine when the undesirable operating condition exists and, upon determining that the undesirable operating condition exists, to generate an alert signal that provides notification to the helicopter pilot to increase helicopter airspeed.

Abstract: A composite material includes a metal material having conductivity and an oxidation inhibitor mixed with the metal material. The oxidation inhibitor forms a complex with the metal material to exert a resistance to oxidation of the metal material. For example, the composite material is formed on a surface of a base material as a plating material. As another example, the composite material is plated on a surface of an electrode.

Abstract: A diagnostic method performed onboard an aircraft is provided. The method obtains aircraft state data during landing of the aircraft, via a plurality of avionics and aircraft systems; and determines a landing surface friction condition based on the aircraft state data, using at least one of the plurality of avionics and aircraft systems. A method of evaluating landing surface data onboard an aircraft is also provided. The method receives landing surface friction condition data, prior to landing; computes a required landing distance, based on the received landing surface friction condition data; and when the required landing distance is more than a predetermined threshold, performs a designated task.

Abstract: A system and method provide an alert to a pilot of an aircraft aurally with a given volume and inflection, and/or visually with a text message which includes color, font, and pitch (size). The alert is rendered in distinct fashion for the expected and unexpected cases, e.g., an intended runway and an unintended runway. In a preferred embodiment, the alert for the intended runway is changed to a confirmation level, or one that is less likely to interfere with other information flow, while the alert for the unintended runway would be provided in a more conspicuous manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods that alert the pilot of the unusual negative pitch attitude. Additionally, the system can bias a “sink rate” envelope toward a more sensitive direction, such that the pilot can be alerted while (or before) a large sink rate is built up during an unusual negative pitch attitude condition.