Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a runway landing alert for an aircraft. The method comprises establishing a Runway Awareness Advisory System (RAAS) envelope for the designated target runway of the aircraft. A track of the aircraft is monitored with reference to a centerline of the target runway. Any deviation by the aircraft from the centerline of the target runway is detected and determined if it is within a margin of error. If the deviation is within the margin of error, an altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is increased. If the aircraft is determined to still be maneuvering with respect to the centerline of the target runway, the altitude parameter of the RAAS envelope is decreased. Otherwise, an alert is generated if the aircraft is outside of the RAAS envelope.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to synchronization of a ground support vehicle with a taxiing aircraft, so as to provide ground support services during taxi operation. After landing, a taxiing aircraft obtains a parking destination from a ground traffic controller. A first navigational route from a first location of the taxiing aircraft to the parking destination is determined. The taxiing aircraft transmits a signal indicative of the first navigational route to the ground support vehicle. A second navigational route of the ground support vehicle is determined so as to intercept the taxiing aircraft. The ground support vehicle navigates according to the determined second navigational route, and couples to the taxiing aircraft at a coupling location common to both the first and the second navigational routes. The ground support vehicle provides ground support service during continued navigation according to a coupled portion of the first navigational route.

Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of an aircraft when diverting from a flight plan using a comparative vertical profile display. A vertical profile display includes a first graphical representation of a first vertical profile corresponding to a first lateral route defined by a flight plan for the aircraft and a second graphical representation of a second vertical profile corresponding to a modified lateral route different from the first lateral route displayed concurrently on the vertical profile display. The first vertical profile corresponding to the first lateral route is depicted on the vertical profile display in a first plane and the second vertical profile corresponding to the modified lateral route is depicted on the vertical profile display in a second plane different from the first plane.

Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of an aircraft when diverting from a flight plan using a comparative vertical profile display. A vertical profile display includes a first graphical representation of a first vertical profile corresponding to a first lateral route defined by a flight plan for the aircraft and a second graphical representation of a second vertical profile corresponding to a modified lateral route different from the first lateral route displayed concurrently on the vertical profile display. The first vertical profile corresponding to the first lateral route is depicted on the vertical profile display in a first plane and the second vertical profile corresponding to the modified lateral route is depicted on the vertical profile display in a second plane different from the first plane.

Examples for flight navigation determination are presented herein. An example may involve obtaining a target destination for an aircraft and determining an initial flight path between a current location and the target destination. The flight path may include a series of waypoints for guiding navigation. The example may further involve obtaining terrain information that represents elevations of obstacles along the initial flight path and modifying the initial flight path to generate a revised flight path using the terrain information. The revised flight path may include modifications to the series of waypoints of the initial flight path such that navigation of the revised flight path avoids obstacles positioned along the initial flight path. The obstacles may have an elevation that exceeds an adjustable threshold elevation that depends on the initial flight path. The example may further involve providing the revised flight path to a navigation system of the aircraft.

Systems and methods enabling user control over use of aircraft sensors located onboard an aircraft. The method receives sensor signals comprising any combination of ADS signals, IRS signals and a third RA signals, and GPS signals; comparing sensor data values in the sensor signals to each other and to respective acceptable thresholds and critical thresholds that are preprogrammed; grouping avionic systems on-board the aircraft into subgroups having a same sensor reliance; presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) page on the display system, the GUI page identifying a sensor subgroup, the aircraft sensors of the respective sensor subgroup, and respective critical sensor parameters and associated critical sensor parameter data; visually distinguishing an critical sensor parameter data that exceeds the respective acceptable threshold or exceeds the respective critical threshold; and, accepting user deselections of aircraft sensors via the GUI page.

Systems and methods enabling user control over use of aircraft sensors located onboard an aircraft. The method receives sensor signals comprising any combination of ADS signals, IRS signals and a third RA signals, and GPS signals; comparing sensor data values in the sensor signals to each other and to respective acceptable thresholds and critical thresholds that are preprogrammed; grouping avionic systems on-board the aircraft into subgroups having a same sensor reliance; presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) page on the display system, the GUI page identifying a sensor subgroup, the aircraft sensors of the respective sensor subgroup, and respective critical sensor parameters and associated critical sensor parameter data; visually distinguishing an critical sensor parameter data that exceeds the respective acceptable threshold or exceeds the respective critical threshold; and, accepting user deselections of aircraft sensors via the GUI page.

A system that employs a third-party accessible application programming interface (API) to generate symbology for a three-dimensional view is disclosed. In embodiments, the third-party accessible API is running on or configured to communicate with at least one controller for an aircraft display system. The third-party accessible API is configured to receive a set of parameters for generating three-dimensional symbology. The controller is configured to receive the three-dimensional symbology from the third-party accessible API. The controller is further configured to generate a three-dimensional view that includes proprietary symbology and the three-dimensional symbology from the third-party accessible API at a display of the aircraft display system.

A method for enabling autonomous emergency assistance for one or more communication device, CD, registered in a regular cellular network. The method is performed in an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, and comprises emulating a cellular network in a geographical region, wherein the UAV and the one or more CD are without connectivity with the regular cellular network, sending an information message in the geographical region, the message comprising an emergency response trigger, receiving an automatic emergency data response from the one or more CD in the geographical region, in response to the sent message, and determining an action based on the received automatic emergency data response. A CD, a UAV, a computer program and a computer program product are also presented.

There is provided a system and a method for operating a multi-engine rotorcraft. When the rotorcraft is cruising in an asymmetric operating regime (AOR) at least one engine is an active engine and is operated in an active mode to provide motive power to the rotorcraft and at least one second engine is a standby engine and is operated in a standby mode to provide substantially no motive power to the rotorcraft, at least one of a power level of the at least one second engine is increased and at least one variable geometry mechanism of the at least one second engine is moved to shed any ice accumulation on the at least one second engine.