A system and method to automatically control aerodrome lighting from an aircraft includes selectively retrieving, via a processor, aerodrome lighting data associated with an individual aerodrome from an aerodrome lighting data source. Images are captured, using a camera having a field of view and being mounted on the aircraft, of aerodrome lighting within the camera's field of view. Image data representative of an intensity of light transmitted from the aerodrome lighting within the camera's field of view are supplied from the camera to the processor. The aerodrome lighting data and image data are processed in the processor and, in response to processing the aerodrome lighting data and the image data, commands are selectively supplied, via the processor, to a communication radio that cause the communication radio to transmit RF signals consistent with the light control characteristics associated with the individual aerodrome and based on image data supplied from the camera.

The invention relates to a method for controlling the torque of a drive device (1) for rotating wheels (2) of an aircraft comprising actuators for selectively driving rotating wheels of the aircraft to ensure its movement on the ground, comprising the step of regulating a torque generated by the drive device according to a torque setpoint (4) issued by the pilot. According to the invention, the method involves the step of generating, as long as the torque setpoint is not sufficient to guarantee a stable movement speed of the aircraft, a replacement torque setpoint (5) to allow the aircraft to move at a stable speed, and substituting the replacement torque setpoint for the torque setpoint generated by the pilot.

There is provided methods and systems for controlling airplane taxiing, including detecting aerodrome taxiway lines and estimating cross-track error.

The passenger boarding includes a rotunda, a tunnel portion, a cab and a first detection device configured to detect an angle of the rotunda from the first axis around an origin point, and a second detector configured to measure a distance of the tunnel from the origin point in the extensible/contractable direction, provided at the tunnel.

A system and method are provided that direct a real time global view with images of an aircraft's entire exterior environment from an external monitoring system located on an aircraft equipped with landing gear wheel-mounted electric taxi drive systems powering ground travel to an integrated head-up display worn by a pilot driving the aircraft with the electric taxi drive systems within an airport ramp area. The real time global view and images produced by the monitoring system are communicated to the integrated head-up display in the form of an actual picture of the ramp area environment exterior to the aircraft viewable by the pilot with the head-up display in real time as the pilot maneuvers the aircraft within the ramp area with the electric taxi systems. The pilot can change the images viewed in the head-up display by changing head position.

A runway guidance sign includes a housing defining an interior space and an opening at a front side. The housing includes opposite upper and lower walls. An interior upright is received in the interior space of the housing. The interior upright is fastened to and extends between the upper and lower walls. The interior upright is integrally formed from a one-piece sheet of material.

An aircraft tow vehicle and methods of towing an aircraft are disclosed. An aircraft tow vehicle comprises an aircraft structural interface configured to couple to a wheel assembly of a main landing gear of an aircraft; and an aircraft towing propulsive force system configured to propel the aircraft forward when the aircraft structural interface is coupled to the wheel assembly.

A ground power system for supplying electrical power to an aircraft and method of using the same is disclosed in which an electric motor is connected to an aircraft wheel to drive the aircraft wheel, an autonomous vehicle battery carrier is releasably connected to the aircraft through an articulating robotic arm to power the electric motor and to move the aircraft on the ground to support aircraft taxiing and preparation for takeoff using the battery power from the autonomous vehicle, and a command system releases the autonomous vehicle battery carrier as roll begins but before the aircraft rotates.

Disclosed is a ground movement system for a helicopter having a fuselage and rotor blades fixed to the top of the fuselage, the ground movement system comprising at least three wheels secured below the fuselage of the helicopter, the wheels being retractable during flight; a motor positioned in the hub or on the undercarriage leg of each of at least two of the wheels, wherein each motor is operable to rotate the wheel in forward and backward directions; wherein each motor allows the wheel to rotate freely when unpowered; at least one user interface operable to receive user input commands to control the speed and direction of travel of the helicopter using the ground movement system; and a control arrangement to provide control signals to each of the motors based on the user input commands.

A runway-embedded flash lighting device, including: a body; a ceiling member; a light guide member; and an LED flash light source, wherein the body is configured to be embedded in a runway, the ceiling member is disposed in an upper opening of the body and configured to be exposed to a runway surface when the body is embedded in the runway, the ceiling member includes a flash emission window, the light guide member is disposed in the flash emission window, the LED flash light source is disposed inside the body and configured to emit a flash toward the light guide member, and the light guide member is configured to allow the flash emitted from the LED flash light source to be emitted from the flash emission window to outside the runway-embedded flash lighting device.