Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an alert to the pilot of an aircraft during a deep/long landing situation. An example system includes a database that stores runway information, a position sensor that produces aircraft position information and a processor that is in data communication with the database and the position sensor. The processor includes an advisory condition detection component that compares altitude of the aircraft to a predefined altitude limit, determines if the aircraft is beyond an airline defined landing zone limit and not on the ground, and generates an alert to the pilot based upon the comparison and the determination. An output device outputs the generated alert. The airline defined landing zone limit is a fixed distance value from the approach end of a runway or a percentage of the total length of a runway, whichever allows for greatest amount of runway remaining.

Abstract: A system implementable in an aircraft for generating a warning includes a processor, a first component configured to receive from a user a desired aircraft control-surface takeoff configuration, a second component configured to provide to the processor a first signal indicative of a current control-surface configuration of the aircraft, and a third component configured to provide to the processor a second signal indicative of the position of the aircraft. The processor may be configured to compare the aircraft position to the contents of a database, determine, based on the comparison, whether the aircraft is on a departure runway from which the aircraft is to depart, and generate an alarm if the aircraft is on the departure runway and the current control-surface configuration is different from the desired control-surface takeoff configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring Required Navigational Performance (RNP) Procedures and reducing nuisance Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System warnings including a processor, a memory with RNP instructions and data, and a communication device. The processor accesses the RNP data and instructions from the memory, and uses the communication device to obtain flight information from a Flight Management System of an aircraft. When the processor determines that the aircraft is in RNP space, the processor projects an RNP envelope and modifies a warning envelope of an EGPWS to coincide with the RNP envelope if the EGPWS warning envelope extends farther than the RNP envelope.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively alerting a pilot of an aircraft about distance remaining to the end of a runway. A position of the aircraft is received. A position of a runway is retrieved from a runway database. The retrieved position of the runway is compared to the received position of the aircraft to determine if the aircraft is within an alert envelope relative to the retrieved position of the runway. The position of the runway is subtracted from the position of the aircraft to determine a distance to the distal end of the runway. An alert to the pilot is generated based upon the distance to the distal end of the runway.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling activation of a look-ahead function of a terrain alert and warning system. The system receives rate of climb and aircraft speed information, compares the rate of climb and aircraft speed information to a predefined threshold, and deactivates a look-ahead function based on the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advising a flight crew member that an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS), for example, may continue to provide terrain alerts, cautions, warnings, or the like because an intended landing site for the aircraft is not recognized within a database of airports. An unknown airport advisory is generated and broadcast after the aircraft is in a landing configuration, when the aircraft is greater than a threshold distance from the nearest landing site in the database, but before the terrain alerts are broadcast. The pilot may actuate a “terrain inhibit” selection device after receiving the advisory. The inhibit device may deactivate or mute subsequent alerts generated by the EGPWS during that particular landing sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting the pilot of an aircraft in making a go-around decision. Various aircraft parameters are monitored during the approach to land and a risk level assessed. When the risk level exceeds a specified threshold, an alert is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating an alert if a rotary wing aircraft is approaching a hazardous situation. In an example method a processor receives a wind value and a rate of descent value. An alert signal is generated if the received wind value is greater than a tailwind threshold value and the rate of descent value is greater than a rate of descent threshold value. The generated alert is outputted to an output device, such as a display device or speakers. The alert signal is further generated if the rotary wing aircraft is on approach to landing, a rate of change of heading is less than a predefined value, or a rate of change in speed is less than a predefined value.

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: Systems, methods and computer program products for alerting a flight crew during landing that the tailwind exceeds acceptable limits. The system determines a base tailwind threshold speed for a candidate runway based on a performance constant associated with an aircraft and candidate runway information and determines present tailwind speed. If the tailwind speed is greater than the base tailwind threshold speed, a tailwind alert is generated. Also, the system determines if the aircraft is in a tailwind alerting mode based on configuration of the aircraft and activates tailwind alerting, if it is determined that the aircraft is in the tailwind alerting mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining if an aircraft is approaching a atmospheric pressure at field elevation (QFE) airport and for alerting if any errors that might affect the production of an accurate altitude value. In an example method a global positioning system (GPS) altitude value is compared to a corrected barometric altitude, if an airport that the aircraft is proximate to (approaching) is a QFE airport. The field elevation of the proximate airport is added to the corrected barometric altitude to generate an adjusted barometric altitude, if the comparison between the GPS altitude and the corrected barometric altitude is greater than a predefined threshold. The adjusted barometric altitude is sent to relevant aircraft systems, such as an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and apparatus for locating aircraft with respect to airport runways, generating and annunciating imminent landing situational awareness advisories as a function of aircraft height above runway.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting for data protocol discrepancies. The apparatus includes a unit that receives a signal from GPS receiver. The signal was formatted according to a transmission protocol. The unit includes a first component that estimates User Equivalent Range Error (UERE) based on the received signal and adjusting at least one value of the received signal based on the estimated UERE and one or more predefined scale factor and a second component that uses the adjusted at least one value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting for data protocol discrepancies. The apparatus includes a unit that receives a signal from GPS receiver. The signal was formatted according to a transmission protocol. The unit includes a first component that estimates User Equivalent Range Error (UERE) based on the received signal and adjusting at least one value of the received signal based on the estimated UERE and one or more predefined scale factor and a second component that uses the adjusted at least one value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advising a flight crew member that an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS), for example, may continue to provide terrain alerts, cautions, warnings, or the like because an intended landing site for the aircraft is not recognized within a database of airports. An unknown airport advisory is generated and broadcast after the aircraft is in a landing configuration, when the aircraft is greater than a threshold distance from the nearest landing site in the database, but before the terrain alerts are broadcast. The pilot may actuate a “terrain inhibit” selection device after receiving the advisory. The inhibit device may deactivate or mute subsequent alerts generated by the EGPWS during that particular landing sequence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing an advisory if barometric altitude transition setting needs adjusting in an aircraft. In one embodiment, the method determines transition altitude, receives an uncorrected altitude, compares the uncorrected altitude to the transition altitude and to corrected altitude, and outputs a barometric altitude transition setting advisory based on the comparison between the uncorrected altitude and the transition altitude. The comparison determines if the uncorrected altitude is greater than the determined transition altitude and the advisory is output if the uncorrected altitude is determined to be greater than the transition altitude and the uncorrected altitude differs from the corrected altitude by a threshold amount. A delay is provided between the comparison of the uncorrected altitude to the transition altitude and the comparison between the uncorrected altitude and the corrected altitude.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a depressurization alert. An example method includes receiving a cabin depressurization discrete signal, determining if the cabin depressurization discrete signal is valid, and issuing a cabin depressurization alert, if the cabin depressurization discrete signal was determined to be valid. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a time delay is executed before the receiving, determining, and issuing steps are repeated. The cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if uncorrected pressure is not greater than a predefined altitude. The uncorrected pressure is a raw pressure value produced by a Pitot-Static system. Also, the cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if the aircraft's altitude above an intended runway is not greater than a first predefined value.

Abstract: A method, computer software product, and system to generate altitude callouts according to proximity to a runway at an airport or heliport includes determining whether the helicopter is flying in proximity to the runway and automatically selecting an altitude threshold increment set based upon the determination. The threshold increment set including a plurality of altitude threshold values. A calculated terrain clearance value is calculated for each of the plurality of altitude threshold values. A suitable warning is automatically generated according to the comparison. Selecting an altitude threshold increment set includes selecting one of the group consisting of first altitude threshold increment set including a plurality of higher altitude threshold values and a second altitude increment set including the plurality of higher altitude threshold values and further including a plurality of lower altitude threshold values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling activation of a look-ahead function of a terrain alert and warning system. The system receives rate of climb and aircraft speed information, compares the rate of climb and aircraft speed information to a predefined threshold, and deactivates a look-ahead function based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining reliability of Global Positioning System (GPS) ground speed. An example system receives GPS track information and GPS ground speed, determines a change in GPS track information and determines reliability of the GPS ground speed based on the determined change in GPS track information relative to the GPS ground speed. The system sets a GPS ground speed based on the determined reliability. A GPS ground speed output is set to zero, if the GPS ground speed is determined unreliable and the GPS ground speed output is set to the GPS ground speed, if the GPS ground speed is determined reliable. The system sends the GPS ground speed output to a Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS). Also, the system sets the GPS ground speed output to zero, if a received GPS ground speed validity signal or a received GPS track validity signal indicate invalid.