Landing alerts for preventing runway excursions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9430948-B2
Application number	US-201414254782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2014
Priority date	Apr 16, 2014
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

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.

First claim

I claim:

1. 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. 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.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected margin is a nonzero period of time, and alerting the operator includes providing a cautionary or an advisory alert.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft varies depending on altitude.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the latest touchdown point calculation is dynamically updated at predetermined intervals.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boundary descent path is dynamically updated at predetermined intervals.

7. 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.

8. 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 (T 1 ) 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 (T 2 ) 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 T 1 is projected to be within a specified margin of T 2 .

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein T 2 is estimated using a current ground speed of the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the alerting step includes providing an alert signal when T 1 is projected to be greater than T 2 .

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining step includes assuming a planned deceleration on the runway less than a maximum deceleration of the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving one or more of the following inputs: (a) runway conditions, (b) autobrake setting, (c) thrust reversers usage, (d) landing performance calculation, and (e) airspeed correction values.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising displaying an alert indication on a glide slope indicator.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein T 1 is estimated using a current flight path angle of the aircraft.

15. 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 (T 1 ) 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 (T 2 ) 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 T 1 is projected to be within a specified margin of T 2 .

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further executed to update T 1 and T 2 dynamically at selected intervals.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a display in communication with the processor, the display configured to indicate visually an alert based on a relationship between T 1 and T 2 .

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein a proximity to the boundary descent path is determined at least in part by analyzing a current flight path angle of the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 2 , wherein the selected margin is a nonzero period of time, and alerting the operator includes providing a cautionary or an advisory alert.

20. The method of claim 2 , wherein the boundary descent path corresponds to a maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the maximum allowable descent rate of the aircraft varies depending on altitude.

22. The method of claim 2 , wherein the latest touchdown point calculation is dynamically updated at predetermined intervals.

23. The method of claim 2 , wherein the boundary descent path is dynamically updated at predetermined intervals.

24. The method of claim 2 , wherein a proximity to the boundary descent path is determined at least in

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Henderson Mark

Classifications

• G01C23/00 Primary

  Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration · CPC title

• B64F1/18

  Visual or acoustic landing aids · CPC title

• G08G5/21

  located onboard the aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/54 Primary

  for approach or landing · CPC title

• G05D1/0676

  specially adapted for landing · CPC title