A lighting system of an aircraft cabin includes a plurality of light units disposed at a plurality of locations within the aircraft cabin, wherein each of the plurality of light units includes at least one infrared light source, with an emission of infrared light across the aircraft cabin resulting from an operation of the at least one infrared light source of the plurality of light units.

In one example, a method includes capturing, by a camera system including at least one camera device positioned within an aircraft, image data of an interior of the aircraft. The method further includes determining, by a processing device positioned within the aircraft, that one or more alert criteria are satisfied, and outputting, in response to determining that the one or more alert criteria are satisfied, at least a portion of the captured image for transmission to a ground-based computing device via a wireless communications network. The method further includes receiving, from the ground-based computing device, a lock override command configured to cause the processing device to unlock an electronically-controlled door lock of a flight deck door of the aircraft, and responsively unlocking the electronically-controlled door lock of the flight deck door.

A system for providing security of an aircraft in flight by providing a signal transmitted to all Air Traffic Control facilities within transmission range of the aircraft that emergency access to the cockpit is required and a unique time stamped signal generated by an Air Traffic Control facility to allow access to the cockpit or assume control of the aircraft flight control path in response to analysis of video/audio signals by the Air Traffic Control facility from cameras disposed in the passenger, galley and cockpit areas of the aircraft which are activated by the unique signal from the Air Traffic Control facility.

An interactive system for unlocking a locked airplane cockpit door having at least one ground station and at least one system for transmitting data between the ground station and airplane, including a ground station signal for actuating a door unlock mechanism. The airplane has: a passenger cabin located door unlock request unit to generate a door unlock request signal; a unit to transmit the request signal; at least one image capture unit in the passenger cabin or a cockpit and a unit to transmit images; a unit for receiving a door unlock signal; and an on-board computer, configured to receive the door unlock signal from the receiving unit and activate the door unlock mechanism. The ground station is connected to at least one receiving station for door unlock request and image signals transmitted from airplanes and is provided with or connected to a transmitting unit for door unlock signals.

A monitoring system to be installed in a cabin (100a-100c) of an aircraft (100) or spacecraft for passenger transportation comprises at least one imaging device and at least one output device. Information displayed by the output device comprises indication of whether a passenger seat (110) in the cabin is occupied or empty. For more reliable information, several types of imaging devices may be used within the system, in particular selected among a visible light camera, a near-infrared lighting source combined with a near-infrared camera, a thermal camera, and a range imaging device.

An interactive system for unlocking a locked airplane cockpit door having at least one ground station and at least one system for transmitting data between the ground station and airplane, including a ground station signal for actuating a door unlock mechanism. The airplane has: a passenger cabin located door unlock request unit to generate a door unlock request signal; a unit to transmit the request signal; at least one image capture unit in the passenger cabin or a cockpit and a unit to transmit images; a unit for receiving a door unlock signal; and an on-board computer, configured to receive the door unlock signal from the receiving unit and activate the door unlock mechanism. The ground station is connected to at least one receiving station for door unlock request and image signals transmitted from airplanes and is provided with or connected to a transmitting unit for door unlock signals.

An aircraft with an aircraft fuselage, and a passenger cabin and a cockpit, where the aircraft includes a center-forward attendant space between the passenger cabin and the cockpit. A cabin crew member of the aircraft can stand in the center-forward attendant space for monitoring progress of an emergency evacuation of the aircraft. The aircraft has one or more emergency exits for providing egress of passengers from the aircraft fuselage during the emergency evacuation. The aircraft also has a situational awareness monitoring (SAM) system for use in evacuating the passengers from the aircraft during the emergency evacuation. The SAM system includes one or more imaging devices and one or more display modules, each of which displays within the passenger cabin images captured by a corresponding one of the one or more imaging devices.

In one example, a method includes capturing, by a camera system including at least one camera device positioned within an aircraft, image data of an interior of the aircraft. The method further includes determining, by a processing device positioned within the aircraft, that one or more alert criteria are satisfied, and outputting, in response to determining that the one or more alert criteria are satisfied, at least a portion of the captured image for transmission to a ground-based computing device via a wireless communications network. The method further includes receiving, from the ground-based computing device, a lock override command configured to cause the processing device to unlock an electronically-controlled door lock of a flight deck door of the aircraft, and responsively unlocking the electronically-controlled door lock of the flight deck door.

A system is described. The system may detect whether a user within a flight deck is authorized to control the aircraft. The user may receive differing levels of authority to control the aircraft depending on whether the user is authorized or unauthorized. The system may also control the aircraft depending on the various phases of the aircraft, including in flight and on the ground. The system may also be used to unlock the controls for the aircraft. The system may unlock the control using biometric information or nonbiometric information. The system may include a camera which is added to a flight deck. The camera may capture images of users within the flight deck. Faces within the images may be detected and compared against authorized users for locking or unlocking the aircraft controls.

A method for piloting a pre-existing aircraft comprising the following steps: integrating an alternative piloting system (1) into the pre-existing aircraft; connecting the aircraft (200) and a ground station in which a ground pilot (207) is positioned; when the aircraft is in a normal state, having the aircraft piloted by a nominal crew; using detection means to detect the occurrence of an emergency situation and, when the occurrence of the emergency is detected: making the ground pilot (207) operational, so that the ground pilot can produce an aircraft ground piloting set-point; transmitting the ground piloting setpoint to the aircraft; using the alternative piloting system to acquire and transmit the ground piloting setpoint to the aircraft flight control system.