Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine by switching on an aircraft warning light, the luminaries of which comprise LEDs, said LEDs radiating light with a maximum intensity in the range of visible light. At least one NIR LED is switched on when the aircraft warning light is switched on, said at least one NIR light source radiating light with a maximum intensity in the NIR range.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system for preventing collisions with a terrain. The system includes a detecting means for detecting risks of collision with the terrain after a predetermined forecasting delay. The system further includes a determining means for determining, based on a trajectory followed by the aircraft, a possible limit point for success of the vertical terrain avoidance maneuver. The system further includes indication means for giving indications on azimuth clearance sections, around the direction in which the aircraft is moving, suitable for success of the vertical terrain avoidance maneuver. The system further includes means for estimating a free-travel distance in each azimuth clearance sector on a straight distancing trajectory with constant gradient and over a distance correspond to more than one minute of flight, the free-travel distance being free of potential conflicts with the terrain.

Abstract: A portable landing pad marker includes a base, a light source, a light cover, at least two stacking indents, and at least two raised stacking pins. The portable landing pad marker may also include a collapsible traffic cone in the base of the marker and have a portion of the base removed to form a handle to easily transport the markers. The portable landing pad marker may also include a base that is at least partially visible with night vision equipment.

Abstract: Proposedis a remote control device (100), arranged to control a lighting system(1). The lighting system comprises a plurality of light-modules (10) capable of emitting modulated light comprising light module identification codes (20). The remote controldevice (100) comprises a sensor (110) arranged to switch the light modules (10) from an operational mode (210) in which the light emitted by the light modules (10) is non-5 modulated to a control mode (230) in which the light emitted by the light modules (10) is modulated. Advantageously, the invention provides a lighting system with improved energy efficiency and EMC characteristics.

Abstract: An infrared laser landing marker system provides a capability to mark a boundary line of varying lengths with near infrared lasers, e.g., of the order 8xx nm. This system can be either directly operated or remotely operated via satellite communications and is compatible with currently fielded night vision goggles. Two modules, placed at either end of boundary, self align to each other and then proceed to mark a boundary edge of a landing zone with an infrared laser line.

Abstract: A visual navigational aid for guiding the approach path of incoming aircrafts, ships or other vehicles. The visual navigational aid comprises high intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) or LED arrays and optical beam shaping apparatus that produce multiple light beams with different colors or flash patterns to guide the incoming aircrafts, ships or other vehicles to a pre-determined approach path.

Abstract: A pilot is maneuvering an aircraft on a ground surface, such as a runway or taxiway. On a cockpit display, the pilot sees a scaled aircraft symbol overlaying a moving map on a cockpit display. The aircraft symbol represents the aircraft, while the moving map represents the ground surface on which the aircraft is located. The aircraft symbol depicts its nose gear and main gear with respect to the ground surface. The nose gear on the aircraft symbol rotates based on tiller angle. The cockpit display also shows edge guidance lines that allow the pilot to line up the main gear, while providing a margin of safety. Predictive symbology also overlays the moving map to provide an indication of whether the aircraft can safely turn on the ground surface.

Abstract: Temporary safety zones are established by deploying a plurality of safety icons connected by extensible, brightly colored, retro-reflective tapes. The tapes are retracted within the housings of the safety icons. A plurality of modules having different functions are removably affixed to the base of the safety icons, the modules including sensors, beacons, transceivers, detection devices, and audio receivers and video cameras. Because the modules are manually interchangeable, the safety zones can be implemented for specific, interchangeable circumstances, e.g., a surveillance station, portable helipad, landing strip, and restricted area barriers.

Abstract: A portable landing aid apparatus is disclosed along with a method for operation in aiding a pilot of a helicopter to land the helicopter in adverse conditions, such as at night or in inclement weather, at a non-traditional landing site. The landing aid apparatus comprises a plurality of light units that are powered by a portable power supply, such as a battery or an emergency vehicle at the site. Each light unit further includes a white strobe light, a steady burn amber lamp, and a green strobe light. The white strobe light is utilized as a day locator, while the green strobe light is utilized as a night locator. The steady burn amber light is used as a landing locator. The white strobe light is utilized during the day as it is highly visible from long distances and does not interfere with the pilot's vision. The green strobe light is used at night as it is highly visible at night and does not interfere with the pilot's night vision.

Abstract: A system and method for issuing an aircraft drift advisory. In one embodiment, the system includes a head or eye tracker to monitor the rotational position of the pilot's line of sight with respect to the aircraft axis. The pilot's line of sight is compared to the direction of the aircraft. If the absolute value of the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, corresponding to the foveal cone of vision, the incremental aircraft drift distance is computed and used to update the cumulative aircraft drift distance. The cumulative aircraft drift distance is compared to the predetermined advisory criterion, which may be a constant, a uniform function of altitude or a function of altitude that is tied to a digital terrain map. When the cumulative aircraft drift distance equals or exceeds the advisory criterion, the pilot is given a drift advisory that the aircraft has drifted so as to prompt the pilot to adjust his line of sight to the direction of the drift.

Abstract: FAA regulations mandate that a pilot must have sufficient visibility to see the airport, and then the runway before landing; and sufficient visibility to see a substantial portion of the runway before taking off. In adverse weather conditions when visibility is reduced flights are cancelled, delayed, and rerouted to land where visibility is adequate. Poor visibility is one of the major causes of air traffic fatalities. One aspect of this invention discloses a method of illuminating an aircraft landing location to facilitate identification and aircraft guidance thereto comprising the following steps: projecting a laser beam upwardly from the location so that an aircraft may be better able to target the landing location particularly in conditions of poor visibility.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated approach lighting system are described. An integrated approach lighting system includes a threshold bar and a plurality of lighting towers. The systems and methods provide advantages in that pilots are given a precise three dimensional visual reference to the aircraft's position relative to the runway's centerline, threshold crossing and height above the airfield. This provides the pilot with a higher concentration of visual information to insure faster decision making and an easier, more accurate and safe approach to landing.

Abstract: In this application are disclosed a variety of improvements to the original system. These improvements provide for greater utility, effectiveness, and ease of manufacturing of the laser visual landing aid system.

Abstract: A wake turbulence avoidance light system is provided including an aircraft runway with a periphery including a pair of long parallel side edges and a pair of short end edges. Also included is a plurality of light assemblies mounted along at least one of the side edges of the runway in spaced relationship. A plurality of sensors are adapted for indicating a point on the runway at which a plane has departed. Finally, control circuitry is connected between the light assemblies and the sensors for indicating a location of the point by illuminating a light assembly adjacent thereto, as detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for visually guiding a vehicle to an approach corridor and subsequent landing, parking, or docking zone. As a vehicle approaches the designated landing, parking, or docking zone, the pilot is visually guided into the approach corridor by one or more pairs of guidance light units. Each guidance light unit has at least an affirmative color light segment and a negative color light segment. The affirmative color light segment indicates affirmative approach, landing, parking, or docking conditions and the negative color light segment indicates negative approach, landing, parking, or docking conditions. The colored light segments of the guidance light units are positioned and oriented such that the affirmative color light segment either corresponds with the approach corridor or provides visual guidance to assist the pilot in guiding the vehicle into the approach corridor by defining outwardly extending guidance corridors.

Abstract: A light unit has a strobe operated flash tube and a non-strobe peripheral lamp immediately beneath the flash tube; a switch can turn the unit off, operate either light or enable the pilot of an aircraft to signal the light unit to operate the flash tube or to turn off the flash tube and operate the non-strobe peripheral lamp, by means of a radio receiver having a local oscillator midway between two standard distress frequencies. The light unit may have infrared or other color lenses. A ribbon assists establishing a pattern of light and/or colors to mark a landing site and indicate wind direction.

Abstract: The invention provides an array of standard infrared aiming lights mounted n an aircraft and used occasionally by pilots wearing infrared goggles to enhance perception of terrain features on low flying missions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an installation for providing an aircraft with alignment guidance during the approach stage. At least three flashing lights are disposed on either side of the runway and directed towards an approaching aircraft. The beam directions and the timing of the light flashes are such that the pilot of an aircraft lying on the axis of the runway sees the two lights closest to the runway flash simultaneously, whereas the pilot of an aircraft that is too far to one side or the other of the axis of the runway sees a series of light flashes that appear to be running towards the axis of the runway.

Abstract: Optical guidance system for the night landing of aircraft on a landing area along a determined approach path, which comprises two horizon reference luminous bars (1, 2) disposed in alignment with each other in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the approach path, and two azimuth overshoot indicating lamps, respectively to the left (5) and to the right (6), located at the outer ends of the pair of horizon reference bars and provided with masks (8) in order that they can only be seen by the aircraft if the latter overshoots the approach path in azimuth to the left and to the right respectively.

Abstract: Navigation by interpretation of images of parallelogram corner points of a ground beacon array. A video camera senses images of the beacon array and a computer interprets the images to provide attitude and location of the platform, on which the camera is mounted, relative to the array.

Abstract: An improved glide slope indicator system for facilitating aircraft landings under adverse lighting conditions on remote or austere landing sites is provided which comprises a pair of indicators deployable near ground level on each side of a runway, each indicator including a housing having an optical window and a pair of light sources mounted in predetermined spaced relationship to each other and to the optical window and connected to a power source and related circuitry to project a well defined first blinking and second steady light beam of predetermined angular divergence and overlap, one indicator disposed to project beams with an overlap elevated at a first angle relative to horizontal and the other indicator disposed to project beams with an overlap elevated at a second angle relative to horizontal different from the first, with a preselected glide path lying between the two overlaps.

Abstract: An active, electro-optical display system for use on fixed-wing, land-based airport runways, is disclosed for remotely guiding a pilot during visual approach and landing of an aircraft. Conventional Microwave Landing System (MLS) ground-transmitted data is air-derived on board the aircraft and data-linked to a ground receiver to produce a continuous digital data signal indicative of aircraft slant range, elevation and azimuth relative to the desired landing position. The resulting data signal is electrically coupled to a signal processor governed in accordance with control guidance laws to produce three discrete signals indicative of the magnitude and direction of the descent rate error, the flight path acceleration, and the lateral drift rate of the aircraft relative to the intended landing area.

Abstract: A luminous signalling plate, comprising one or more electroluminescent flat units, interchangeably and tightly fitted within a housing, which in turn is fixed on the deck of a ship, flush with the coating of the deck itself.

Abstract: An omnidirectional approach slope indicator unit for heliports is disclosed. The unit may include two oppositely directed light beam generators secured to a rotatable shaft, the light beam generators generating light beams of differing colors to alert an approaching aircraft of his position relative to the glide slope indicated by the light beams.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning an aircraft landing aid projector of the type which comprises a light source located at the focus of a parabolic reflector, a lens mounted coaxially with the parabolic reflector and a filter disposed intermediate the reflector and lens close to the focal point of the lens. The apparatus comprises a base having a surface portion for supporting a projector, a lens for focussing light from the projector onto an image receiving means and means allowing observation of the image receiving means. The filter of a projector is correctly positioned when it appears in focus on the image receiving means.