FLIGHT PLAN INTENT ALERT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• Main Authors: KROHN PATRICK G, NAIMER HUBERT L, GLAZE PATRICK K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.08.2010
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; MEASURING; MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; NAVIGATION; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY; PHYSICS; SIGNALLING; SURVEYING; TESTING; TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suitable flight plan intent alert system and method. SOLUTION: Flight plan information is provided in the form of a series of waypoints having attributes which preferably include, among others, latitude, longitude, altitude constraint, and waypoint identifier. A flight path defined by this information is modeled, and the flight plan model is checked against terrain information to locate any instances in which a potentially unsafe flight altitude exists. In flight, the flight path model is updated using aircraft position so that the path from the aircraft position to the next waypoint is reflected in the model. In the event that a potentially unsafe flight altitude is detected, an alert may be issued to a flight crew. The crew may then amend the flight plan or take other appropriate action. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT