IP Library Granted Patent US 11,170,655
Granted Patent B2
US 11,170,655 · App. 16/796,279 · Granted Nov 9, 2021

Aircraft arrival determination systems and methods

Inventors: Samantha A. Schwartz (Castle Pines, CO); Garoe Gonzalez Parra (Frankfurt am Main, DE); Adam Karwan (Gliwice, PL); Marcin Zadroga (Gdynia, PL); Daniel Roman Jaroszewski (Wiebaden, DE); Wolfgang Ludwg Mergenthaler (Floersheim am Main, DE)
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
G08G5/0039G08G5/0008G08G5/0013G08G5/0021G08G5/0026G08G5/0034G08G5/0043G08G5/0056G08G5/0078G08G5/0082G08G5/0091
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,170,655
App. No.
16/796,279
Granted
Nov 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft arrival determination system includes an arrival sequence determination unit that is configured to determine a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport. A landing suggestion unit is configured to provide a landing suggestion for the aircraft. The landing suggestion provides information related to landing at the destination airport or diverting from the destination airport to an alternate airport.

Claims (45)

1. An aircraft arrival determination system comprising:

an arrival sequence determination unit that is configured to determine a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport; and

a user interface that is configured to show the position of the aircraft within the landing queue for the destination airport and the estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport,

wherein the user interface provides a visual display that facilitates a determination of whether there is a need to divert from the destination airport to an alternate airport, and

wherein the user interface shows a bug out distance in relation to the destination airport, the bug out distance representing a decision threshold in which the determination is to be made.

2. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a landing suggestion unit that is configured to provide a landing suggestion for the aircraft, wherein the landing suggestion provides information related to landing at the destination airport or diverting from the destination airport to an alternate airport.

3. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 2 , wherein the landing suggestion unit is configured to provide the landing suggestion based on a first distance between the aircraft and the destination airport, a second distance between the aircraft and the alternate airport, and a remaining amount of fuel of the aircraft.

4. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , further comprising a tracking sub-system that is configured to track a location of the aircraft in relation to the destination airport.

5. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 4 , wherein the tracking sub-system is an automatic depending surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) tracking sub-system.

6. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , further comprising a weather detection sub-system that is configured to detect weather conditions proximate to the destination airport.

7. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further shows a bug out fuel graphic indicative of an amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport, wherein the bug out fuel graphic also shows an emergency probability index indicative of a probability of the amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport falling below a predetermined safe level.

8. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is onboard the aircraft.

9. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises:

a weather section that is configured to show weather graphics indicative of current weather conditions at one or both of the destination airport or the alternate airport;

a traffic section that is configured to show traffic graphics indicative of a current position of the aircraft within the landing queue for the destination airport; and

a fuel factors section that is configured to show a bug out fuel graphic indicative of an amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport.

10. The aircraft arrival determination system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises one or both of an airport comparison section or a comparison graph, wherein the airport comparison section and the comparison graph are configured to show a graphical representation of a landing decision comparison between the destination airport and the alternate airport.

11. An aircraft arrival determination method comprising:

determining, by an arrival sequence determination unit, a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport; and

showing, on a user interface, the position of the aircraft within the landing queue for the destination airport and the estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport, wherein the user interface provides a visual display that allows an individual to determine whether there is a need to divert from the destination airport to an alternate airport, wherein the showing, on the user interface, comprises:

showing a bug out distance in relation to the destination airport, the bug out distance representing a decision threshold in which the determination is to be made.

12. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing, by a landing suggestion unit, a landing suggestion for the aircraft, wherein the landing suggestion provides information related to landing at the destination airport or diverting from the destination airport to an alternate airport.

13. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 12 , wherein the providing comprises basing the landing suggestion unit on a first distance between the aircraft and the destination airport, a second distance between the aircraft and the alternate airport, and a remaining amount of fuel of the aircraft.

14. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 11 , further comprising tracking, by a tracking sub-system, a location of the aircraft in relation to the destination airport.

15. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting, by a weather detection sub-system, weather conditions proximate to the destination airport.

16. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 11 , wherein the showing, on the user interface, further comprises:

showing a bug out fuel graphic indicative of an amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport; and

showing, on the bug out fuel graphic, an emergency probability index indicative of a probability of the amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport falling below a predetermined safe level.

17. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 16 , wherein the showing comprises:

showing, on a weather section, weather graphics indicative of current weather conditions at one or both of the destination airport or the alternate airport;

showing, on a traffic section, traffic graphics indicative of a current position of the aircraft within the landing queue for the destination airport; and

showing, on a fuel factors section, the bug out fuel graphic indicative of the amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport.

18. The aircraft arrival determination method of claim 16 , wherein the showing, on the user interface, further comprises showing, on one or both of an airport comparison section or a comparison graph, a graphical representation of a landing decision comparison between the destination airport and the alternate airport.

19. An aircraft arrival determination system comprising:

an arrival sequence determination unit that is configured to determine a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport; and

a user interface that is configured to show the position of the aircraft within the landing queue for the destination airport and the estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport,

wherein the user interface shows a bug out fuel graphic indicative of an amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at an alternate airport, and

wherein the bug out fuel graphic also shows an emergency probability index indicative of a probability of the amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport falling below a predetermined safe level.

20. An aircraft arrival determination method comprising:

determining, by an arrival sequence determination unit, a position of an aircraft within a landing queue for a destination airport and an estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport; and

showing, on a user interface, the position of the aircraft within the landing queue for the destination airport and the estimated landing time for the aircraft at the destination airport, wherein the user interface provides a visual display that allows an individual to determine whether there is a need to divert from the destination airport to an alternate airport, wherein the showing, on the user interface, comprises:

showing a bug out fuel graphic indicative of an amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport; and

showing, on the bug out fuel graphic, an emergency probability index indicative of a probability of the amount of fuel left for the aircraft to land at the alternate airport falling below a predetermined safe level.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2026
From: THE BOEING COMPANY
To: JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, INC. (F/K/A BOEING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 074967/0544 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2025
From: FOREFLIGHT LLC; JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073622/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2025
From: THE BOEING COMPANY
To: BOEING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073156/0773 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2020
From: SCHWARTZ, SAMANTHA A.; PARRA, GAROE GONZALEZ; KARWAN, ADAM; ZADRIGA, MARCIN; JAROSZEWSKI, DANIEL ROMAN; MERGENTHALER, WOLFGANG LUDWIG
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 051876/0246 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15682617 · Aug 22, 2017
Related Publication 20200193845A1 · Jun 18, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,559,252