US 8,046,158 B2 · Method and system for reducing runway incursion at airports

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for minimizing or preventing runway incursion at airports by utilizing data packets of information transmitted over the voice communication channel used by pilots at the airport. The data packets of information contain the latitudinal and longitudinal position of the aircraft provided by an on board GPS receiver and a unique identifier for the aircraft, such as the tail number, which is then received by other aircraft on the same ground frequency, and the tower, and displayed on a geo-referenced map display of the airport provided to the pilots and the tower ground controller. The information may be updated by polling the various aircraft In this manner, information received from all active aircraft within an airport can be displayed on an electronic map of the airport which can be viewable by the pilots on the ground as well as the ground controller.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for reducing runway incursion by a plurality of aircraft dispersed on the ground at an airport having a common local airfield voice communication channel for communicating with pilots landing and/or taking off from said airport, the method comprising the steps of:

periodically transmitting a data packet on said airfield voice communication channel from at least one of said dispersed aircraft when said one aircraft utilizes said voice communication channel, said data packet comprising a current ground position for said one aircraft at said airport along with a unique identifier for said one aircraft;
providing a geo-referenced map display of said airport;
and
receiving said transmitted data packet at another location at said airport and displaying the ground location of said data packet transmitting aircraft on said geo-referenced map display for indicating the position of said aircraft on the ground at said airport.

1 more element

A system for reducing runway incursion by a plurality of aircraft dispersed on the ground at an airport having a common local airfield voice communication channel for communicating with pilots landing and/or taking off from said airport, the system comprising:

means for periodically transmitting a data packet on said airfield voice communication channel from at least one of said dispersed aircraft when said one aircraft utilizes said voice communication channel, said data packet comprising a current ground position for said one aircraft at said airport along with a unique identifier for said one aircraft;
means for providing a geo-referenced map display of said airport;
and
means for receiving said transmitted data packet at another location at said airport and displaying the ground location of said data packet transmitting aircraft on said geo-referenced map display for indicating the position of said aircraft on the ground at said airport.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for reducing runway incursion at airports

Life of this patent

Method and system for reducing runway incursion at airports

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14