Method and on board device for providing pilot assistance in the lack of air control

Method for providing pilot assistance to the pilot in a first aircraft in a region of the world lacking ground based air traffic control area, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first blind broadcast message at determined intervals and when a first aircraft reaches a given altitude and when a waypoint is passed towards all other aircraft in a neighborhood on a dedicated frequency within VHF range in an airspace lacking ground based air traffic control;
• receiving at least one second blind broadcast message on a dedicated frequency at a device in the first aircraft, the at least one second blind broadcast message being transmitted from a second aircraft in a neighborhood and within the VHF range;
• inputting, on a keyboard of the first aircraft, relevant data associated with the received at least one second blind broadcast message transmitted by the second aircraft, the received at least one blind broadcast message including at least one airway data item, one data item defining a first flight position, a first time data item defining an instant at which the first flight position is reached, a second flight position data item, and a second estimated time data item defining an instant at which the second flight position will be reached;
• calculating at least one estimated current position of the second aircraft from inputted data in the at least one second blind broadcast message and a path being followed and direction of flight along the path by the second aircraft, the estimated current position being extrapolated from the inputted relevant data;
• displaying the extrapolated position of the second aircraft and a position of the first aircraft, said positions being displayed in a form of areas which is considered that the first aircraft is located based on the first blind broadcast message;
• detecting a potential conflict between the path of the first and second aircrafts;
• and
• notifying the potential conflict to at least one pilot.

Device onboard a first aircraft for providing pilot assistance in a region of the world lacking groudn based air traffic control comprising:

• means for emitting blind broadcast messages on a dedicated frequency towards all aircraft within VHF range at determined intervals and when the first aircraft reaches a given altitude and passes a waypoint;
• means for receiving at least one second blind broadcast message transmitted by a second aircraft within a desired distance from the first aircraft and in an airspace not having ground based air traffic control, the blind broadcast message transmitted from the second aircraft and received in the first aircraft;
• means for manually inputting relevant data associated with transmitted information in the at least one second blind broadcast message into said device;
• means for calculating an estimated current position of the second aircraft from the inputted data;
• and
• means for calculating a flight path of the second aircraft from the blind broadcast message, wherein said means for calculating determines whether a point of collision will exist between the first aircraft and second aircraft based on the flight path of the second aircraft and operating data of the first aircraft;
• means for detecting a potential conflict between the flight paths of the first and second aircrafts;
• and
• means for notifying the potential conflict to at least one pilot.