Systems and methods for informing a pilot of an aircraft about a topographical condition

A system for informing a pilot of an aircraft about a topographical condition, the system comprising:

• an electronic data storage unit configured to store location information and topographical condition information for a plurality of runways;
• a position determining unit configured to determine a geographical location of the aircraft;
• a display unit configured to display a graphical image;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled with the electronic data storage unit, the position determining unit, and the display unit, the processor being configured to:
• (i) obtain the geographical location of the aircraft from the position determining unit,
• (ii) identify a runway of the plurality of runways that the aircraft is approaching based on the geographical location of the aircraft and the location information stored in the electronic data storage unit,
• (iii) obtain a subset of the topographical condition information relating to the runway from the electronic data storage unit, and
• (iv) command the display unit to display a vertical profile of the runway including a graphic depiction of the subset of the topographical condition information.

A method for informing a pilot of an aircraft about a topographical condition, the method comprising:

• determining a geographical location of the aircraft,
• identifying, with a processor, a runway that the aircraft is approaching;
• retrieving topographical condition information pertaining to the runway from an electronic data storage unit;
• and
• displaying a vertical profile of the runway depicting the topographical condition information.