Method and system for continuous in-flight management of an on-board beam generator

A method for continuous in-flight management of a beam generator on board an aircraft, the aircraft comprising:

• the beam generator emitting a light beam;
• sensors;
• a calculator;
• a display;
• and
• a tracker,
• the method comprising the following steps:
• continuously acquiring a value of at least one parameter of the beam generator by at least one of the sensors;
• continuously acquiring a value of at least one parameter of the aircraft by at least one of the sensors, the parameter(s) of the aircraft being distinct from the parameter(s) of the beam generator;
• continuously estimating at least one piece of information relating to the reliability of the beam generator over a predetermined time period using the calculator, as a function of successive values of the parameter(s) of the beam generator, successive values of the parameter(s) of the aircraft, and data from a stored history of the beam generator;
• and
• displaying at least one indication relating to the beam generator on the display, the indication(s) being dependent on the piece of information,
• wherein the method comprises the following steps:
• determining a position of the aircraft, using the tracker;
• determining parameters of the light beam, the parameters of the light beam being distinct from the parameter(s) of the aircraft and the parameter(s) of the beam generator;
• determining a Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD) relative to the light beam as a function of the parameters of the light beam, using the calculator;
• and
• determining at least one value relating to the risk of injury likely to be caused by the beam generator in at least one zone on the ground, as a function of the position of the aircraft, the NOHD, the parameters of the light beam and the piece of information relating to the reliability of the beam generator, using the calculator,
• at the time of the displaying step, the indication(s) relating to the beam generator is/are a function of the value(s) relating to the risk of injury associated with the zone(s) on the ground.

A system for continuous in-flight management of a beam generator on board an aircraft, comprising:

• the beam generator capable of emitting a light beam;
• sensors;
• a calculator;
• a display;
• and
• a tracker;
• wherein the system is configured to implement a method comprising the following steps:
• continuously acquiring a value of at least one parameter of the beam generator by at least one of the sensors;
• continuously acquiring a value of at least one parameter of the aircraft by at least one of the sensors, the parameter(s) of the aircraft being distinct from the parameter(s) of the beam generator;
• continuously estimating at least one piece of information relating to the reliability of the beam generator over a predetermined time period using the calculator, as a function of successive values of the parameter(s) of the beam generator, successive values of the parameter(s) of the aircraft, and data from a stored history of the beam generator;
• and
• displaying at least one indication relating to the beam generator on the display, the indication(s) being dependent on the piece of information,
• wherein the method comprises the following steps:
• determining a position of the aircraft, using the tracker;
• determining parameters of the light beam, the parameters of the light beam being distinct from the parameter(s) of the aircraft and the parameter(s) of the beam generator;
• determining a Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD) relative to the light beam as a function of the parameters of the light beam, using the calculator;
• and
• determining at least one value relating to the risk of injury likely to be caused by the beam generator in at least one zone on the ground, as a function of the position of the aircraft, the NOHD, the parameters of the light beam and the piece of information relating to the reliability of the beam generator, using the calculator,
• at the time of the displaying step, the indication(s) relating to the beam generator is/are a function of the value(s) relating to the risk of injury associated with the zone(s) on the ground.