Computer-implemented methods, systems, and program products are provided that assist in aspects of aerial surveying, including selective display of planned flight path segments, marking of ground conditions, monitoring coverage of a planned flight path, and providing guidance information for aircraft navigation, including speed and turns.

Human-machine interface for required time of arrival (RTA) constraint negotiation. Embodiments present critical RTA information and results of associated data calculations to the pilot in a concise and informative manner using a dialogue box with intuitive graphical displays. Embodiments present critical RTA information to assist a pilot in negotiating the RTA constraint with air traffic controllers, accepting the clearance, and having confidence in the system that it will achieve the defined RTA constraint.

Methods and systems are provided for guiding or otherwise assisting operation of an aircraft en route to an airport. One method involves identifying a reference point in advance of a runway, dynamically determining a gliding vertical trajectory for the aircraft en route to the reference point based at least in part on a current altitude of the aircraft at a current aircraft location and gliding characteristics of the aircraft, and providing a graphical indication of a difference between a predicted altitude of the aircraft at a location corresponding to the reference point resulting from the gliding vertical trajectory and an altitude criterion associated with the reference point. The graphical indication of the difference dynamically updates as the aircraft travels.

A method for assisting in a flight management of an aircraft calculates a local cost function CF(xi, hj) at various altitudes hj along a planned vertical reference flight trajectory over a discrete set of points P(xi, hj) which forms a two-dimensional grid in which the planned vertical reference flight trajectory varies, the local cost function CF(xi, hj) being calculated locally at each point P(xi, hj) according to aircraft data and environmental data predicted at said local point P(xi, hj). Then, for each point P(xi, hj) of the grid, the method determines a neighbourhood including the point P(xi, hj), and associates a colour K(xi, hj) therewith that is dependent on the value of the local cost function CF(xi, hj) using a predetermined bijective lookup transformation. Next, the method displays the coloured grid formed by the coloured neighbourhoods.

A method of targeting, which involves capturing a first video of a scene about a potential targeting coordinate by a first video sensor on a first aircraft; transmitting the first video and associated potential targeting coordinate by the first aircraft; receiving the first video on a first display in communication with a processor, the processor also receiving the potential targeting coordinate; selecting the potential targeting coordinate to be an actual targeting coordinate for a second aircraft in response to viewing the first video on the first display; and guiding a second aircraft toward the actual targeting coordinate; where positive identification of a target corresponding to the actual targeting coordinate is maintained from selection of the actual targeting coordinate.

A method, an apparatus, system, and computer program product for navigating an aircraft. Information indicative of a result of a scan of an environment around the aircraft is received by a computer system for landmarks. Bearings of the landmarks and locations of the landmarks are determined by the computer system. A current position of the aircraft is estimated by the computer system using the bearings of the landmarks and the locations of the landmarks. A set of actions to be performed is determined to guide the aircraft based on the current position of the aircraft is performed by the computer system.

According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method for water volume estimation includes detecting water based at least in part on sensor-based data; determining a volume of water based at least in part on the sensor-based data; determining a location at the water for an aircraft to retrieve water via a water retrieving apparatus; and translating the location of the water into pilot inputs to guide the aircraft to the water.

Systems and methods for presenting an RTA waypoint with associated time constraints. The system includes a flight management system (FMS) providing an assigned flight plan with a plurality of waypoints; a display device configured to render a current location and trajectory of the aircraft in a navigation display and in a vertical display; and a controller circuit. The system locates the RTA waypoint among the plurality of waypoints, as a function of the flight plan and the current location and trajectory of the aircraft. The system identifies a time constraint associated with the RTA waypoint. The system uses the time constraint to determine a type, from among an “at”, a “before”, and an “after”, for the RTA waypoint; and, assigns a preprogrammed visual encoding scheme for the type to the RTA waypoint. The system presents the RTA waypoint, using the visual encoding scheme, on the display device.

A method and apparatus dynamically update customized integrated terminal approach procedure interfaces based on changing real-time events associated with aircraft and airports. A dynamic approach procedures application extracts and analyzes terminal approach data, aircraft data, airport data and real-time weather data to automatically generate an integrated terminal approach interface. The integrated terminal approach interface presents dynamic digital approach information, the interface including a map interface and a procedure side bar displaying route-related procedures data to assist pilots with selecting a route into the destination airport. As conditions change, displayed terminal approach data within the map and procedure side bar is updated and route recommendations are refined, to assist a user in selecting destination airports, routes, and relevant approach procedures.

A system may include a display and a processor communicatively coupled to the display. The processor may be configured to: generate a synthetic vision system (SVS) taxi mode exocentric view of an aircraft when the aircraft is performing taxi operations and when the aircraft is on ground, wherein the SVS taxi mode exocentric view includes at least one range ring centered around a depiction of the aircraft, each of the at least one range ring providing a visual indication of a given range between the aircraft and a given range ring; and output, to the display, the SVS taxi mode exocentric view. The display may be configured to: display the SVS taxi mode exocentric view.