Method, system, and graphical indicator for providing a lateral center of gravity of an aircraft
AssigneeBombardier Inc.
InventorsAndrei Drancea, George Shpati
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing a lateral center of gravity of an aircraft on an aircraft display. A fuel distribution in the aircraft fuel tanks is determined. A lateral center of gravity of the aircraft is determined based on the fuel distribution. The lateral center of gravity is sent to the aircraft display. The present disclosure further provides an aircraft display for displaying the lateral center of gravity of an aircraft.
Claims14
A method for providing a lateral center of gravity of an aircraft on an aircraft display, the method comprising:
- determining a fuel distribution in fuel tanks of a first wing and a second wing of the aircraft;
- determining a lateral center of gravity of the aircraft based at least in part on the fuel distribution;
- sending a signal indicative of the lateral center of gravity to the aircraft display;
- displaying the lateral center of gravity on the display with respect to at least one threshold;
- and
- triggering a rebalancing of fuel between at least some of a first tank, a second tank, a third tank, and a fourth tank when the lateral center of gravity exceeds a first one of the at least one threshold;
- wherein the first wing comprises the first tank that is an inboard tank, the second tank that is an outboard tank and a first pump between the first and second tanks, and the second wing comprises the third tank that is an inboard tank, the fourth tank that is an outboard tank and a second pump between the third and fourth tanks;
- and
- wherein the rebalancing of fuel is performed by at least one of the first pump and second pump.
A system for providing a lateral center of gravity of an aircraft on an aircraft display, the system comprising:
- a processing unit;
- and
- a non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon program instructions executable by the processing unit for:
- determining a fuel distribution in fuel tanks of a first wing and a second wing of the aircraft;
- determining a lateral center of gravity of the aircraft based at least in part on the fuel distribution;
- sending a signal indicative of the lateral center of gravity to the aircraft display;
- displaying the lateral center of gravity on the display with respect to at least one threshold;
- and
- triggering a rebalancing of fuel between at least some of a first tank, a second tank, a third tank, and a fourth tank when the lateral center of gravity exceeds a first one of the at least one threshold;
- wherein the first wing comprises the first tank that is an inboard tank, the second tank that is an outboard tank and a first pump between the first and second tanks, and the second wing comprises the third tank that is an inboard tank, the fourth tank that is an outboard tank and a second pump between the third and fourth tanks, and wherein the rebalancing of fuel is performed by at least one of the first pump and second pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.