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US 9,430,948 B2Granted
Landing alerts for preventing runway excursions
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMark Henderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A landing alert system and method for preventing runway excursions may include determining, during an approach of an aircraft to landing on a runway, a target touchdown point on the runway, determining a boundary descent path configured to permit safe approach and touchdown of the aircraft on the runway at or before the target touchdown point, and, in response to the aircraft crossing within a selected margin of the boundary path, alerting an operator of the aircraft.
Claims30
A method, implemented in a computer system, of assisting with landing of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- determining, based on one or more current runway conditions during an approach of an aircraft to landing on a runway, a latest touchdown point on the runway, the latest touchdown point being calculated to permit stopping of the aircraft before reaching an end of the runway;
- determining a boundary descent path derived from a maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft, the boundary descent path terminating at the latest touchdown point, such that the boundary descent path is configured to permit safe approach and touchdown of the aircraft on the runway at or before the latest touchdown point;
- and
- in response to the aircraft crossing within a selected margin of the boundary descent path, alerting an operator of the aircraft;
- wherein the latest touchdown point is calculated to be the latest touchdown point on the runway which will permit safe landing and stopping of the aircraft using maximum deceleration capability.
2 more elements
A method, implemented in a computer system, of assisting with landing of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- determining, based on one or more current runway conditions during an approach of an aircraft to landing on a runway, a latest touchdown point on the runway, the latest touchdown point being calculated to permit stopping of the aircraft before reaching an end of the runway,
- determining a boundary descent path derived from a maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft and terminating at the latest touchdown point, such that the boundary descent path is configured to permit safe approach and touchdown of the aircraft on the runway at or before the latest touchdown point, and
- in response to the aircraft crossing within a selected margin of the boundary descent path, alerting an operator of the aircraft;
- wherein the latest touchdown point is calculated to be the latest touchdown point on the runway which will permit safe landing and stopping of the aircraft using a planned deceleration less than maximum deceleration capability.
1 more element
A method, implemented in a computer system, of assisting with landing of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- determining, based on one or more current runway conditions during an approach of an aircraft to landing on a runway, a latest touchdown point on the runway, the latest touchdown point being calculated to permit stopping of the aircraft before reaching an end of the runway,
- determining a boundary descent path derived from a maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft and terminating at the latest touchdown point, such that the boundary descent path is configured to permit safe approach and touchdown of the aircraft on the runway at or before the latest touchdown point, and
- in response to the aircraft crossing within a selected margin of the boundary descent path, alerting an operator of the aircraft;
- wherein a proximity to the boundary descent path is determined at least in part by analyzing a current flight path angle of the aircraft.
1 more element
A method of assisting with landing of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- determining, during an approach of an aircraft to landing on a runway, a latest touchdown point on the runway based on aircraft characteristics and current landing conditions, the latest touchdown point being calculated to permit stopping of the aircraft before reaching an end of the runway,
- comparing, by a computer processor, an estimated minimum length of time (T1) required to land the aircraft based on a current altitude of the aircraft and using a maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft versus an estimated length of time (T2) required to reach the latest touchdown point based on a current distance to the latest touchdown point, and
- alerting an operator of the aircraft when T1 is projected to be within a specified margin of T2.
A computer system for assisting with landing of an aircraft, the computer system comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory in communication with the processor;
- and
- a landing alert program including a plurality of instructions stored in the memory that are executed by the processor to:
- determine, during an approach of an aircraft to landing on a runway, a latest touchdown point on the runway, the latest touchdown point being calculated to permit stopping of the aircraft before reaching an end of the runway,
- compare an estimated minimum length of time (T1) required to land the aircraft based on a current altitude of the aircraft and using a maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft versus an estimated length of time (T2) required to reach the latest touchdown point based on a current distance to the latest touchdown point, and
- alert an operator of the aircraft when T1 is projected to be within a specified margin of T2.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.