# US 2014/0207315 A1 · Apparatus and method for displaying a helicopter terrain intercept point during landing

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- Number: US 2014/0207315 A1
- Document ID: US20140207315A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/747,539
- Filed: 2013-01-23
- Published: 2014-07-24
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-23
- Assignees: Honeywell International Inc.
- Inventors: Gang He
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207315A1

## CPC

- G01C 23/005: {Flight directors (indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32)}
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)

## Abstract

A system and method displays an intercept point on a synthetic vision display that conforms to the flight path intercepting the terrain when the nose of the helicopter is pitched up during landing. A steep approach during landing may be detected by an evaluation of, for example, attitude of the helicopter, rate of descent, and airspeed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of providing visual guidance for landing a helicopter, comprising:
ascertaining flight parameters of the helicopter, the flight parameters including a flight path;
determining an intercept point of the flight path with terrain; and
displaying the intercept point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying a flight path marker associated with level flight of the helicopter in a first format; and
displaying the intercept point in a second format.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein displaying the flight path marker comprises:
displaying in a subdued manner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein displaying the intercept point comprises:
displaying the intercept point in a subdued manner.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying primary symbology; and
displaying the intercept point so as not to interfere with the primary symbology.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the intercept point comprises:
displaying an icon representing the helicopter.

### Claim 7

A method of providing visual guidance for a landing for an aircrew of a helicopter, comprising:
determining a flight path of the helicopter;
determining the height of the helicopter above terrain;
displaying first symbology including an helicopter intercept point designating where the flight path intercepts terrain; and
displaying second symbology including an intended point for landing the helicopter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising:
displaying a flight path marker associated with level flight of the helicopter in a first format;
displaying the intercept point in a second format; and
displaying the second symbology in a third format.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein displaying the flight path marker comprises:
displaying in a subdued manner.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein displaying the intercept point comprises:
displaying the intercept point in a subdued manner.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising:
displaying primary symbology; and
displaying the intercept point so as not to interfere with the primary symbology.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein displaying the intercept point comprises:
displaying an icon representing the helicopter.

### Claim 13

A display system comprising:
a display;
a database;
an avionics system;
a processor coupled to the display, database, and avionics system, the processor configured to:
ascertain flight parameters of the helicopter, the flight parameters including a flight path;
determine the height of the helicopter above a terrain;
determine an intercept point of the flight path with terrain; and
display the intercept point, an icon representing the helicopter, and an icon representing an intended spot for the helicopter landing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The display system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display the aim point and the intercept point in a format unique to helicopter operations.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The display system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display a flight path marker associated with level flight of the helicopter in a first format; and
display the intercept point in a second format.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The display system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display the flight path marker in a subdued manner.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The display system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display the intercept point in a subdued manner.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The display system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display primary symbology; and
display the intercept point so as not to interfere with the primary symbology.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The display system of claim 13 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display an icon representing the helicopter.