A system and method for retention of flight deck preferences operates to control a comprehensive combination of aircraft systems and system configurations enabling a pilot to seamlessly retain and recall the desired preferences based on a plurality of mission related factors. With system control of flight deck physical settings including seat position and shape, display illumination and color and internal and external lighting configurations, the system allows a pilot to save time, effort, and minimize errors of system set up and configuration. With a short entry, or short-range sensing, of the pilot ID, the pilot commands the system and method for retention of flight deck preferences to configure each of the plurality of aircraft systems according to the recalled pilot preference.

A balloon system, preferably including a balloon and a payload. A balloon, preferably including a plurality of gores, a plurality of load members, and an apex fitting. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including deflating a balloon, and optionally including operating the balloon system in flight and/or landing the balloon system.

Methods and systems for controlling an aircraft cabin display are described herein. The method comprises obtaining a reflected color on a surface adjacent to a cabin window of an aircraft, generating an image having an image color in accordance with the reflected color on the surface adjacent to the cabin window, and displaying the image having the image color on a display device covering the cabin window.

A system may include an augmented reality (AR) aircraft window. The AR aircraft window may include a transparent emissive display layer, a camera, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transparent emissive display layer and the camera. The processor may be configured to: receive, from an avionics computing device, aircraft data including information of a location, an altitude, a heading, and a bank angle of an aircraft; receive video from the camera; perform head tracking operations to determine a position of at least one of eyes or a head of a user based at least on the video from the camera; generate graphical AR content aligned with the user's view through the AR aircraft window based at least on the aircraft data and performance of the head tracking operations; and output, to the transparent emissive display layer, the graphical AR content when at least one window shader element is transparent.

A balloon system including a balloon, a payload, and a safety module. A safety module, preferably including a tether and a parachute, and optionally including a cover and/or a drogue. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including operating the balloon system in flight and descending under a parachute.

A passenger window shade on an aircraft is provided. The passenger window shade includes a first section of the passenger window shade. The first section forms a substantially flat and thin plane. The first section has a first transparency to visible light. The passenger window shade includes a second section of the passenger window shade situated within the first section. The second section includes a second transparency to visible light that is different from the first transparency such that an image is formed inside the aircraft when visible light is aimed at the passenger window shade from outside the aircraft.

A passenger rest cabin situated in the overhead crown area of an aircraft provides individual rest compartments along either lateral side of a central longitudinal corridor of limited height. The corridor and entrance thereto is configured to minimize the risk of claustrophobia by providing sensory preparation systems and techniques. Sensory preparation including transitional compartments with variations in video, lighting and ventilation are presented to the passenger to create a more inviting space. The limited height corridor is equipped with a series of handholds, sized and spaced according to the size of the average passenger, to mitigate the strain of traversing the corridor in a bent over position.

A balloon system, preferably including a balloon and a payload. A balloon, preferably including a plurality of gores, a plurality of load members, and an apex fitting. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including deflating a balloon, and optionally including operating the balloon system in flight and/or landing the balloon system.

A balloon system including a balloon, and optionally including a payload and/or a safety module. A balloon, preferably including a balloon envelope and one or more passive vents, and optionally including one or more active valves. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including maintaining a zero-pressure balloon condition and sealing balloon vents, and optionally including ascending, descending, and/or otherwise operating the balloon system in flight.

A balloon system including a balloon, and optionally including a payload and/or a safety module. A balloon, preferably including a balloon envelope and one or more passive vents, and optionally including one or more active valves. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including maintaining a zero-pressure balloon condition and sealing balloon vents, and optionally including ascending, descending, and/or otherwise operating the balloon system in flight.