Abstract: A plurality of sensors provide respective output data rates, with a first sensor that has a highest output data rate, while one or more other sensors have output data rates that are submultiples of the aforesaid highest output data rate. The data signals coming from the sensors are stored in a memory, e.g., a FIFO memory, by storing the data signals of the first sensor at the aforesaid highest output data rate, accompanying storage of the data signals coming from said first sensor with storage of the data signals coming from the sensors as supplied by said other sensors at the aforesaid submultiple output data rates, so that the data signals are stored in the memory according to a repeated pattern that is common to the various sensors.

Abstract: A centralized maintenance device installed on-board an aircraft notably carries out the following functions: correlation of data relating to failures, warnings, configurations, operational contexts, flags and the logbook, received by the on-board maintenance system; storage of the data received by the on-board maintenance system in a first database; management of a historical record of the data received and of their correlation; transmission to a man-machine interface of the data received, of their correlation and of a date associated with each item of data; display of the received data, their correlation and the date associated with each item of data, by a man-machine interface of the on-board maintenance system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a gauge display prioritization system comprises a priority engine and an output engine. The priority engine is operable to receive a measurement from a first sensor associated with a first aircraft component and a measurement from a second sensor associated with a second aircraft component, select a prioritization criterion based on the received measurements, and select one priority measurement from the received measurements based on the prioritization criterion. The output engine is operable to instruct a gauge disposed within a cockpit to display information representative of the one priority measurement to a pilot.

Abstract: A method for managing navigation of an aircraft. Positions for the aircraft are identified from position information from sensors. Graphical indicators are displayed on a graphical user interface in a display system. The graphical indicators identify the positions for the aircraft. Range rings are displayed around the graphical indicators. The range rings indicate accuracy bounds for the positions.

Abstract: A method of error detection of a flight management system coupled with a guidance of an aircraft according to a flight plan, comprises the steps of: generating a first reference guidance order, monitoring the integrity of the first reference position, when the first reference position is not monitored as being dependable: invalidating the first FMS assembly and the associated guidance system, when the first reference position and the first reference trajectory are monitored as being dependable: generating a first monitoring guidance order, generating a first reference flight control, generating a first monitoring flight control, in monitoring the integrity of the first reference guidance order when the first reference guidance order is not monitored as being dependable: invalidating the first FMS assembly and the associated guidance.

Abstract: A method of preserving rotor speed during a one engine inoperative operation of an rotorcraft, the method can include: detecting a failure of a first engine; monitoring an engine parameter associated with a second engine; using a computer processor to compare the engine parameter to an engine limit; and commanding a decrease collective pitch command when the engine parameter is within a predefined range of the engine limit.

Abstract: A system and method for guided navigation of a mining vehicle are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a haul truck. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the haul truck. A navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, calculate a path including the target destination, and use the position sensor to monitor a progress of the haul truck along the path. A user interface is configured to display at least a portion of the path to an operator of the haul truck.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for generating a landing distance indicator (LDI) are disclosed. The LDI generating system may include one or more sources of navigation data, one or more sources of landing distance (LD) factor data, published LD data source, an image generator (IG), and a presentation system. The IG may be configured to navigation data; acquire LD factor data; define LD data; and generate image data as a function of the navigation data and the LD data. The navigation data could include a runway reference point, and the LD data could an LD. The image data could be representative of at least an image of an LDI comprised of a first boundary is based upon a location of the runway reference point, and a second boundary is based upon the runway reference point and the landing distance.

Abstract: An emergency landing control system for an aircraft includes a landing site data source, a performance margin data source, an engine health data source, an aircraft health data source, and a processor. The landing site data source determines, continuously and in real-time, available landing sites. The performance margin data source conducts, continuously and in real-time, continuous performance analysis of an engine. The engine health data source determines, continuously and in real-time, available engine power as a function of time. The aircraft health data source determines, continuously and in real-time, available aircraft life as a function of time. The processor receives data from these data sources and, based on these data, continuously generates landing paths to one or more of the available landing sites, and selectively and continuously adjusts maximum available engine power up to emergency power limits, as needed, during execution of a landing maneuver to a landing site.

Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for recording a modification of an existing route plan are disclosed. The disclosed system may be comprised of a flight management system (“FMS”), at least one human-machine interface (“HMI”) device, at least one display unit, and a route modification generator (“RMG”). The disclosed device may be comprised of the RMG configured to perform the disclosed method, where such method may be comprised of receiving a request to modify an existing route plan; retrieving the route plan from the FMS; generating a message data set representative of one or more pre-formatted messages having one or more visually-conspicuous, user-interactive variable fields; updating the message data set in response to a user's selection of each field; sending the updated data set to the display unit; receiving a pilot's authorization to modify the route plan, and sending the accepted, modified flight plan to the FMS.

Abstract: A method of determining parameters that are characteristics of the operation of a vehicle having a power plant with at least one engine and mechanical transmission means, sensors, and display means. During the method, various items of information about the aircraft, its state and/or its operation and/or its environment are measured, and then, for at least one parameter Pi relating to the state and the operation of the aircraft there are determined a first limit value Pi_lim for the parameter Pi, a second value Pi_X for each parameter Pi to enable the aircraft to perform a predetermined maneuver X, and an instantaneous third value Pi_inst for each parameter Pi. Thereafter, each first, second, and third values Pi_lim, Pi_X, Pi_inst is displayed simultaneously in order to show up the relative position of second and third values Pi_X and Pi_inst relative to a first value Pi_lim for each parameter Pi.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing aircraft flight information and flight plan information are described. Specific techniques are described for managing flight data in real time, sharing flight data between a plurality of systems, dynamically managing flight information, generating flight plan information, providing flight plan information to a user, and closing flight plan discontinuities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for updating a scale of a barometric altimeter on aircraft are provided. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, receiving, by an aircraft communication system, barometric altimeter scale data corresponding to an atmospheric pressure at an airport, determining, by the processor, if the altitude of the aircraft is below a transition level for the airport, and adjusting, by the processor, the scale of the barometric altimeter based upon the received barometric altimeter scale data when the altitude of the aircraft is below the transition level for the airport.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for providing an alert to a pilot. The method includes the step of receiving a plurality of alerts. The method also includes the step of identifying a highest priority alert from the plurality of alerts. An additional step of the method includes determining a current view of the pilot. The method also includes the step of presenting the highest priority alert within the current view of the pilot.

Abstract: A method for producing a connector, in particular for repair, in particular in the field of aviation and aerospace, including the steps of: providing a base layer; attaching a first layer of fiber composite material having a first rigidity to the base layer; attaching a second layer of fiber composite material having a second rigidity to the first layer, offset therefrom, the second rigidity being greater than the first rigidity; and riveting the first layer to the base layer and riveting the second layer to the first layer and to the base layer.

Abstract: Despite pilot training and current safety systems, aircraft accidents continue to occur. It is recognized herein that existing approaches to preventing aircraft accidents lack capabilities. A predictive aircraft recovery control unit can receive flight data from the plurality of data nodes. The flight data can be indicative of at least a speed of the aircraft and a position of the aircraft. In some cases, based on the flight data, the predictive aircraft recovery control unit can determine that the aircraft will enter a stall condition. Furthermore, based on the flight data, the predictive aircraft recovery control unit can determine a time period that will elapse before the aircraft enters the stall condition. In response to determining that the aircraft will enter the stall condition after the time period elapses, the predictive aircraft recovery control until can trigger a recovery sequence before the aircraft enters the stall condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attitude fault detection based on air data and aircraft control settings are provided. In one embodiment, a sensor monitor for an aircraft attitude measurement system comprises: an aircraft model configured to model a plurality of states, the plurality of states including at least an aircraft attitude state, an aircraft velocity state, a sink rate error state, and a wind velocity state; a propagator-estimator configured to utilize the plurality of states of the aircraft model to process air data measurements and attitude measurements from a first inertial measurement unit of the aircraft attitude measurement system; and a residual evaluator configured to input residual error values generated by the propagator-estimator, wherein the residual evaluator outputs an alert signal when the residual error values exceed a predetermined statistical threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for airspeed estimation using actuation signals are provided. In one embodiment, an on-board avionics airspeed estimation system is provided. The system comprises: a flight control surface for an aircraft; a control surface actuator coupled to the flight control surface, wherein the control surface actuator receives an actuator control output signal from an actuator control system and drives the flight control surface into a position based on the actuator control output signal; a wind estimator coupled to a plurality of aircraft sensors, wherein the plurality of aircraft sensors output a set of aircraft measurements to the wind estimator and wherein the actuator control output signal is further provided to the wind estimator; wherein the wind estimator calculates a wind speed estimate by applying the actuator control output and the set of aircraft measurements to an onboard aircraft model.

Abstract: A user interface for an integrated autopilot and flight management system for an aircraft includes a plurality of tactical parameter controls for operation of the autopilot and a plurality of strategic parameter controls for operation of the flight management system.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying predictive cues on an aircraft display system for executing a landing after an engine failure is provided. The system and method displays the cues for various aircraft configurations, and each cue is displayed in perspective (conformally) on a three dimensional graphical display of the surrounding terrain.

Abstract: A method for determining an orientation of a portable or mobile electronic device includes determining an orientation of the device using at least a first inertial motion sensor (e.g., a gyroscope) with which the portable electronic device is equipped. A correction factor is provided to the orientation of the electronic device using a feedback control signal based on motion data obtained from at least a second inertial motion sensor (e.g. an accelerometer) to reduce drift in motion data obtained from the first inertial sensor. Responsive to a loss of valid motion data from the first inertial motion sensor, a rate at which the correction factor is provided to the orientation of the portable electronic device is increased.

Abstract: A flight instrument that displays the rotational speed of a main rotor of a rotary-wing aircraft, with the flight instrument including display means, a first indicator of a setpoint for the rotational speed of the main rotor, a second indicator of the first current value of the rotational speed of the main rotor, and third and fourth indicators of the limit values of the rotational speed. The setpoint for the rotational speed of the main rotor is variable and the first indicator is stationary on the display means, with the second, third and fourth indicators being movable in relation to the first indicator.

Abstract: In some examples described herein, a runway location is determined based on aircraft state information from at least one aircraft. For example, a processor may determine the coordinates of one or more points of a runway based on aircraft state information generated by one or more aircraft using the runway. In some examples, the processor may aggregate coordinates determined from the aircraft state information provided by a plurality of different aircraft in order to determine the location of the runway. The processor can be located onboard an aircraft providing the state information, onboard a different aircraft, or external to any aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for indicating to an aircrew of an aircraft a normalized runway icon to ensure visualization of a predicted touchdown point, runway length, stopping distance, energy state marking, and threat conditions, where normalization is referenced to typically available length for landing. Indications of present aircraft locations relative to the icons as well as alerts when thresholds are exceeded are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting fuel for an aircraft. Remaining amounts of fuel that will be present for types of fuel use for the aircraft at a destination are predicted. Flight times for the types of fuel use are calculated from the remaining amounts of fuel predicted for the types of fuel use for the aircraft at the destination. Graphical indicators are displayed indicating the types of fuel use and the flight times for the types of fuel use.

Abstract: A method for calculating a flight plan used by a flight management system of an aircraft in a runway approach phase comprises: loading an initial procedure ending at a first end point not corresponding to a threshold of the runway and a first associated missed approach procedure; determining an additional procedure and a second associated missed approach procedure; concatenating the initial procedure and the additional procedure in order to generate a continuous concatenated flight plan comprising the initial procedure, the first missed approach procedure, the additional procedure and the second missed approach procedure; loading the concatenated flight plan into an active flight plan; selecting a second procedure from a set comprising the first missed approach procedure and the additional procedure; activating the selected second procedure.

Abstract: A radio signal processing system includes a first antenna; a second antenna; a first receiver communicatively coupled to the first antenna; a second receiver communicatively coupled to the second antenna; a first processing unit communicatively coupled to the first receiver and configured to receive a first signal from at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna when the system is operating in a first mode; a second processing unit communicatively coupled to the second receiver and configured to receive a second signal from the second antenna when the system is operating in a first mode; and wherein the first processing unit is further configured to receive a third signal from both the first antenna and the second antenna when the system is operating in a second mode.

Abstract: An aircraft avionics system including an aircraft interface device configured to communicate with an aircraft avionics system and a tablet interface module configured to communicate with the aircraft interface device and with one or more tablets. The aircraft avionics system includes a plurality of sensors for an aircraft and the tablet interface module provides the one or more tablets with information received from the aircraft interface device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing event driven vehicle position reporting are disclosed. For example, if a conventional communication system normally utilized by the vehicle for position reporting is turned off, behaving abnormally or otherwise disabled, methods and systems in accordance with the present disclosure may provide supplemental means and capabilities to continue vehicle position reporting. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the supplemental reporting systems are configured so that they cannot be turned off or disabled.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting procedure information for a vertical profile on a display device associated with an aircraft. A method comprises displaying a first segment of the plurality of segments comprising a vertical profile with a first vertical scale and a first horizontal scale, wherein the first horizontal scale is based on a first distance associated with the first segment. The method further comprises displaying a second segment of the plurality of segments with the first vertical scale and a second horizontal scale, wherein the second horizontal scale is based on a second distance associated with the second segment. The first horizontal scale and the second horizontal scale are not equal. In this manner, the vertical profile has a nonuniform horizontal scale and a uniform vertical scale across segments.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for tab-pane-based flight plan management interface are disclosed. The tab-pane-based flight management interface system (FMIS) is optimally Layered and Multi-Indexed (LMI) such that the management of flight management (FM) functions and associated parameters that affect the airplane's flight are easily and efficiently operable by pilots. The LMI-FMIS provides a flexible tab-pane-based architecture that allows pilots to start a flight plan modification, proceed to engage in other tasks not related to the modification, and return to the pending modification to continue the modification process. The LMI-FMIS also provides task-oriented menu structures that provide pilots tailored options or menus applicable to the task at hand thus efficiently guiding pilots to complete a task while maintaining easy access to information that was displayed prior to the commencement of the task.

Abstract: A method and a device (50) for issuing a terrain avoidance warning for a rotary wing aircraft (100) during which at least one bundle (N1, N2) of possible avoidance trajectories for said aircraft (100) is prepared in order to avoid a collision between said aircraft (100) and the relief (70) being overflown. A warning is then triggered as soon as said relief (70) being overflown is found to be at a distance from any one of said bundles (N1, N2) of possible avoidance trajectories that is less than a predetermined distance (Mv). Said avoidance trajectories are determined on the basis of a predetermined avoidance maneuver and on the basis of states of said aircraft (100), said predetermined avoidance maneuver being performed at a predetermined maximum power of said aircraft (100).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flight recorder, having a memory, a control device, which is coupled to the memory and which is configured to record flight data during the flight of an aircraft and to store said flight data in the memory, a transceiver device, which is coupled to the control device and which is configured to accept stored flight data signals from the control device and to convert them into acoustic signals, and an acoustic transducer, which is coupled to the transceiver device and which is configured to emit the acoustic signals of the transceiver device into a body of water, the control device being configured to receive control signals via the transceiver device and, depending on the control signals, to retrieve partial data areas of the stored flight data from the memory and to transfer them to the transceiver device.

Abstract: A method and related system may construct predictable 4-D flight profiles for fuel-efficient Optimized Profile Descents (OPD) in compliance with a Required Time of Arrival (RTA) constraint at a metering waypoint. The method may determine a feasible RTA window at the 95% confidence level enabling pilot awareness to accept or reject the RTA clearance. These methods may eliminate path unpredictability while retaining OPD benefits using constant flight path angle segments during descent. Thus, the vertical descent profile is clearly defined and, therefore, predictable to both pilots and air traffic control.

Abstract: Force feedback elements are incorporated at various points in a flight helmet. An onboard computer system identifies critical events and translates such events into a force feedback pulse applied to one or more of the force feedback elements, warning the pilot of the critical event while at the same time suppressing more conventional critical event warnings that may distract a pilot. Additionally, force feedback elements are incorporated into a vest, bodysuit or body armor. A mobile, personal computer system applies a force feedback pulse to one or more of the force feedback elements to indicate an event that might otherwise require an audible signal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing turbulence-induced accidents that can expand a detection range to about 20 km without increasing the size of a device or increasing the energy consumption, can perform planar distribution monitoring of turbulence when the turbulence is detected in the flight direction and also can output a signal for autopilot steering input that decreases the fuselage shaking when the turbulence is difficult to avoid, as well as to provide a device having those functions.

Abstract: The system according to the invention comprises a display and a synthetic image dynamic generating assembly. It includes a management assembly for the graphic interface of the display, capable of controlling the dynamic display, on a first region of the display, of a synthetic image and able to maintain, in certain movement configurations of the aircraft, a second region of the display delimited by the edge substantially with no synthetic surface representation of the terrain. The management assembly includes means for dynamically delimiting the edge of the first region. The delimiting means are configured to dynamically compute the position of the edge as a function of a determined visibility distance (DV), taken relative to the aircraft.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying the performance of an aircraft when climbing and/or descending. The device includes devices for data capture, calculation and generating images for a display screen. The calculation device is configured to calculate a maximum slope that the aircraft can adopt depending on current data received from a data capture device. A display device presents images of the maximum slope superimposed with altitudes of a projected flight plan.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for assessing health of an aircraft includes a receiver, a flight spectrum analyzer, and a health assessment analyzer. The receiver receives, from an aircraft, a plurality of measurements associated with two or more flight parameters. The plurality of measurements includes measurements spanning at least one period of time. The flight spectrum analyzer determines, based on a comparison of the plurality of measurements to a plurality of flight spectrum definitions, an amount of time the aircraft spent in each flight spectrum of a plurality of flight spectrums during the at least one period of time. The health assessment analyzer assesses a change in health of the aircraft over the at least one period of time based on the determination of the amount of time the aircraft spent in each flight spectrum and a plurality of spectrum health profiles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting information on a display device associated with an aircraft. A method comprises displaying a navigational map in a viewing area on the display device with initial display settings, identifying selection of a first category of information, and identifying content associated with the first category resulting in a first set of content. The method further comprises automatically updating display settings for the navigational map in response to identifying selection of the first category, wherein the display settings are updated based on the first set of content. The method further comprises displaying the first set of content on the navigational map based on the updated display settings.

Abstract: A method of determining a turbulent condition in an aircraft with a handheld device where the handheld device has at least one of a gyroscope, seismometer, and an accelerometer where the method includes receiving an output from the at least one of the gyroscope, seismometer, and accelerometer while the handheld device is located within the aircraft and providing an indication of a turbulent condition.

Abstract: A system and method are described for receiving a NOTAM and storing information relating to the distance of a temporarily displaced threshold for a runway. When that runway is selected for approach and landing, the temporarily displaced threshold and new aiming point are automatically displayed. The change made to the display using NOTAM data can be indicated to the pilot by distinct symbology or particular color, or by using an icon or an annunciation.

Abstract: An aircraft is equipped with engines, each engine having at least one pod and one compressor/turbine hitch. The aircraft has at least one data processing unit and at least one system at the engine level. At least one engine is equipped with at least one static pressure probe for measuring the ambient air under the pod. Also, air static pressure probes are arranged at the engine levels, with one pressure probe at the output of the compressor, at least one rotation speed sensor, for example of a blower, and ambient air temperature probes at the air input or in any compression point. The processing unit is able, from measurements performed by such probes at the engine level, to supply to at least one of the systems at the engine level, determination data for the air speed of the aircraft.

Abstract: Method and system for displaying meteorological phenomena encountered by an aircraft flying along a flight plan. The display system includes a display device configured to present on a screen a meteorological indicator, the meteorological indicator comprising a time line representing a time scale relating to the duration of the flight of the aircraft along the flight plan and, on this time line, a set of first symbols illustrating meteorological phenomena and a second symbol indicating the current instant.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and analyzing data generated by at least one mobile platform (such as a train, ship, aircraft or automobile). The system includes a source of at least one user input, and a data interface control module that collects at least one type of data from the mobile platform, based on the user input, with the data related to the operation of the mobile platform. The system also comprises an analysis control module that analyzes the data collected by the data interface control module and generates analysis data based on the user input.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing aircraft heading information are provided. In one embodiment, an attitude heading reference device comprises: at least one interface for receiving heading information from one or more IRUs; at least one set of gyroscopes and accelerometers; a memory device for storing data representing heading information received via the at least one interface; and a heading calculator coupled to the at least one interface, the at least one set of gyroscopes and accelerometers, and the memory device. The heading calculator generating a heading output signal based on heading information when reliable heading information is received over the at least one interface; the heading calculator generating the heading output signal based on data from the memory device regarding previously reliable heading information and an output of the at least one set of gyroscopes and accelerometers when reliable heading information is not received over the at least one interface.

Abstract: An unmanned aircraft, unmanned aviation system and method for collision avoidance during the flight operation of an unmanned aircraft are provided. The unmanned aircraft includes a lift and propulsion system and a flight control system having a flight control unit, a navigation system and an actuator system. The flight control unit has an autopilot unit. The flight control unit calculates control commands using data from the navigation system and/or the autopilot unit, which can be conveyed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. A collision warning system is connected with the flight control system, the collision warning system detects a collision situation and makes collision avoidance data available. A connection between the collision warning system and the autopilot unit is provided, in order to initiate an obstacle avoidance maneuver by the autopilot unit with the help of the collision avoidance data.

Abstract: A system and method to display, when within an envelope of an ownship's flight path, a symbol representing wake turbulence from another aircraft based on aircraft type and flight parameters received from the other aircraft, the symbol being formatted to indicate the severity of portions of the wake turbulence. The format is modified periodically in accordance with the aircraft's flight path and a decay rate of the wake turbulence.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus that includes a disruption severity module and flight recommendation module. The disruption severity module calculates a disruption severity index value associated with an unscheduled maintenance event of an aircraft. The disruption severity index value is calculated based on a plurality of flight operation factors affected by the unscheduled maintenance event. The flight recommendation module recommends one of resolving the unscheduled maintenance event of the aircraft before a subsequent flight of the aircraft or flying the aircraft without resolving the unscheduled maintenance event of the aircraft based on the disruption severity index value.

Abstract: A method of creating at least one flight plan of an aircraft includes entering a creation objective which illustrates a type and general characteristics of the flight plan to be created, automatically generating a flight plan outline, automatically generating a targeted request for information relating to missing parameters, entering the requested information relating to the missing parameters, and supplementing automatically the flight plan outline and automatically deleting any discontinuities to create, in a definitive manner, the flight plan.