METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISPLAYING ENROUTE MOVING MAPS

Abstract

Methods and systems for a position indicating display system for an aircraft are provided. The system includes a moving map display representative of an area being traversed by the aircraft such that a current relative position of the aircraft is maintained proximate a center of the display, a first overlay on the moving map display that is indicative of a predetermined track of travel, and a second overlay on the moving map display indicative of a distance range from a suitable alternate airport. The second overlay also displays equal time points to assist flight crews in determining closest suitable alternate airport in the event of a required diversion. Constraints regarding the intended flight route on the organized track system are available for display to the flight crew.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a forward perspective view of an exemplary aircraft cockpit display panel that includes at least one display screen in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a screen shot depicting an exemplary position indicating display system that may be used with the aircraft cockpit display panel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot depicting position indicating display system illustrating a North Atlantic airspace entry point from European airspace; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of displaying a current position of an aircraft.

Claims

1. A position indicating display system for an aircraft comprising: a moving map display screen representative of an area being traversed by the aircraft such that a current relative position of the aircraft is maintained within a margin of the screen wherein said moving map display is configurable in at least one of a north-up and a heading-up orientation mode;a first overlay on the moving map display that is indicative of at least one of a predetermined track of travel and a predetermined route; anda second overlay on the moving map display indicative of a distance range of travel around suitable enroute alternate landing sites.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said position indicating display system is configured to provide at least one of situational awareness information and supplementary navigational information.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay is indicative of a North Atlantic Track (NATrack) or an other track of an organized track system (OTS).

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay comprises a NATrack identifier associated with a respective NATrack or an other track of an organized track system identifier associated with a respective track.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay is indicative of a North Atlantic Track (NATrack) or an other track of the OTS and at least one adjacent NATrack, or adjacent OTS track, respectively.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay comprises at least one equal time point (ETP) indicating a substantially equal travel time from the ETP to alternate facilities capable of receiving the aircraft.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay comprises at least one extended range entry point (EEP) indicating the point on an ETOPS segment where the route becomes greater than approximately one hour flying time at a predetermined one engine inoperative cruise speed from a facility capable of receiving the aircraft wherein the facility capable of receiving the aircraft includes at least one of weather reports and weather forecasts that indicate that the weather conditions will be at or above operating minima and that includes field condition reports that indicate a safe landing can be made from approximately one hour prior to approximately one hour after the anticipated time of arrival.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay comprises at least one extended range exit point (EXP) indicating the point on an ETOPS segment where the route becomes less than one hour flying time at the approved one engine inoperative cruise speed from a facility capable of receiving the aircraft.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first overlay comprises at least one critical point indicating a point along the route at which ETOPS diversion fuel requirements is equal to or greater than a normal destination fuel plan requirement.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second overlay is indicative of a distance range of travel or a time range of travel of the aircraft from a facility capable of receiving the aircraft wherein the distance range of travel and time range of travel are determined using the current rate of travel of the aircraft over the ground and a predetermined time period.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second overlay comprises a configurable shape surrounding a representation on the display of a facility capable of receiving the aircraft wherein the configurable circle represents at least one of a distance and a time of travel surrounding a representation on the display of a facility capable of receiving the aircraft for diversion purposes and wherein said shape is configurable based on at least one of an aircraft type design approval and an operator approval.

12. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second overlay is indicative of an extended-range twin-engine operational performance standards (ETOPS).

13. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second overlay includes an indication of a facility capable of receiving the aircraft when the second overlay circumscribes the position of the facility on the moving map display.

14. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second overlay and a third overlay are alternately selectable for display on the moving map display.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said third overlay on the moving map display is indicative of a distance range from a facility capable of receiving the aircraft wherein the distance range of travel is determined using at least one of the current rate of travel over the ground of the aircraft and a predetermined time period.

16. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a controlled airspace entry point at a first end of the predetermined track of travel.

17. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a controlled airspace exit point at a second opposite end of the predetermined track of travel.

18. A method of displaying a current position of an aircraft comprising: determining a current position of the aircraft;displaying a moving map of an area of earth surface surrounding the determined current position of the aircraft wherein a size of the area is selectable by a user;displaying a predetermined track of intended travel across the area; andwherein said moving map display is configurable in at least one of a north-up and a heading-up orientation mode.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein a size of the area is selectable by a user.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein displaying a predetermined track of intended travel further comprises displaying at least one adjacent track to said predetermined track of intended travel.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein displaying a graticule indicative of a distance of travel at a current speed of the aircraft for a predetermined time comprises displaying at least one of a time and distance of travel from a facility capable of receiving the aircraft, at a speed of the aircraft for a predetermined time.

22. A method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising displaying at least one equal time point (ETP) indicating a substantially equal travel time from the ETP to alternate facilities capable of receiving the aircraft.

23. An electronic flight bag system including a moving map display comprising: a first overlay displayed on the moving map display indicative of an intended track of travel; anda second overlay displayed on the moving map display indicative of a current position of the aircraft with respect to a position of a facility capable of receiving the aircraft.

24. An electronic flight bag system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said moving map display further comprises an indication of the current position of an aircraft displayed on the moving map display.

25. An electronic flight bag system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said indication of the current position of an aircraft is maintained within a margin of the screen proximate a center of the moving map display.

26. An electronic flight bag system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said intended track of travel is at least one of a route, a North Atlantic Track (NATrack), and another track of an organized track System (OTS).

27. An electronic flight bag system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said electronic flight bag system is adapted to print a hardcopy of at least one of a current moving map display and a stored moving map display.