Mobile device application-based aircraft data storage and communication system

1. An aircraft, comprising:

a first power supply;

a switched power distribution system configured to power on and power off in responseto user control;

avionics including a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors provide aircraftparameter information and include:

a first supply input; and

a second supply input coupled to the switched power distribution system;a transceiver;

a gateway including a processing system, the gateway coupled to the first power supply,avionics and transceiver, and configured to operate in a first mode to:

receive from the transceiver a remote wake request initiated by a user of a remotecommunication device;

power on at least portions of the avionics in response to the received remote wake request by causing the first power supply to be coupled to the first supply input of the avionics;

receive aircraft parameter information from the powered on portions of the avionics; and

provide the received aircraft parameter information to the transceiver for transmission from the aircraft.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to power off the at least portions of the avionics after receiving the aircraft parameter information during operation in the first mode.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the gateway powers on portions, but not all, of the avionics in response to the received remote wake request.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the powered on portions of the avionics include sensors that provide aircraft information including one or more of fuel level, oxygen level, anti-icing fluid level, oil temperature, battery level, tire pressure, oil level or door lock state.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein:

the aircraft further comprises a relay coupling the first power supply to the at least portions of the avionics; and

the gateway is coupled to the relay and is configured to power on the at least portions of the avionics by actuating the relay.

6. The aircraft of claim 5 wherein the gateway is configured to power off the at least portions of the avionics after receiving the aircraft parameter information by actuating the relay.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the first power supply includes one or more batteries, and wherein the one or more batteries are directly coupled to the gateway.

8. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the switched power distribution system comprises:

one or more switched power supply buses, wherein each second supply input of the at least portions of the avionics that are powered on in response to the remote wake request is coupled to at least one of the one or more switched power supply buses; and

an battery switch coupling the one or more switched power supply buses to a battery to power on and power off the switched power distribution system in response to the user control.

9. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to operate in a plurality of modes including the first mode and a second mode, wherein:

the gateway transitions from the first mode to the second mode when the switched power distribution system is powered on, and transitions from the second mode to the first mode when the switched power distribution system is powered off; and

the gateway is configured to operate in the second mode to:

receive from the transceiver a remote wake request initiated by a user of a remote communication device;

not cause the first power supply to be coupled to the at least portions of the avionics;

receive aircraft parameter information from the powered on portions of the avionics; and

provide the received aircraft parameter information to the transceiver for transmission from the aircraft.

10. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein the gateway logs flight data from the avionics when the gateway is in the second mode.

11. The aircraft of claim 10 wherein the gateway is further configured to operate in a third mode, wherein:

the gateway transitions from the first mode to the third mode when a low first power supply condition is identified, and transitions from the third mode to the second mode when the switched power distribution system is powered on; and

the gateway is configured to operate in the third mode to:

not power up the at least portions of the avionics; and

not receive aircraft parameter information from the powered up portions of the avionics.

12. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the remote wake request is received by the transceiver from a data management system over a second transmission link in response to the initiation of the request from the user's remote communication device to the data management system over a first transmission link.

13. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein the remote wake request is received by the transceiver from the user's remote communication device via a transmission link.

14. A gateway for use in an aircraft to provide aircraft parameter information updates during operation in a first mode, wherein the aircraft includes systems comprising a first supply input and a second supply input coupled to a switched power distribution system, the gateway comprising:

a parameter information port configured to receive aircraft parameter information from the systems on the aircraft;

a power control output port;

a transceiver port; and

a processing system coupled to the parameter information port, the power control outputport and the transceiver port, wherein the processing system is configured to operate to:

receive at the transceiver port a remote wake request initiated by a user of aremote communication device;

provide power on control signals to the power control output port in response tothe received remote wake request, wherein the power on control signals are configured to cause at least portions of the systems on the aircraft to power on in response to the received remote wake request by causing a first power supply to be coupled to the first supply input of at least portions of the systems on the aircraft through a first power supply bus;

receive at the parameter information port aircraft parameter information from the powered on portions of the systems of the aircraft; and

provide the received aircraft parameter information to the transceiver port fortransmission from the aircraft.

15. The gateway of claim 14 wherein the processing system is further configured to provide power off control signals to the power control output port after providing the received aircraft parameter information to the transceiver port, wherein the power off control signals are configured to cause the at least portions of the systems of the aircraft to power off by causing the first power supply to be decoupled from the at least portions of the systems of the aircraft through the first power supply bus.

16. The gateway of claim 15 wherein:

the gateway further comprises:

a first power supply input configured to be directly coupled to a battery of the aircraft through the first power supply bus; and

a second power supply input configured to be coupled to the switched power supply and distribution system of the aircraft; and

the processing system is configured to provide power on control signals causing the battery to be coupled to the first supply input of the systems of the aircraft through the first power supply bus during operation of the gateway in the first mode.

17. The gateway of claim 16 and further including a relay, wherein the relay comprises:

a supply input configured to be coupled to the first power supply through the first power supply bus;

a control input coupled to the power control output port of the gateway; and

a supply output configured to be coupled to the first supply input of the systems of the aircraft.

18. The gateway of claim 14 wherein the systems of the aircraft comprise sensors.

19. The gateway of claim 18 wherein the systems of the aircraft comprise avionics.

20. A method for operating an aircraft in a first mode to provide updated aircraft parameter information to a remote user, wherein the aircraft includes avionics comprising a first supply input and a second supply input coupled to a switched powerdistribution system, the method comprising:

receiving at the aircraft an information update request initiated by a user of a remote communication device;

powering on at least portions of avionics of the aircraft, in response to the received information updaterequest, including causing a first power supply to be coupled to the first supply input of the at least portions of the avionics on the aircraft through a first power supply bus;

receiving aircraft parameter information from the powered on at least portions of theaircraft; and

transmitting the received aircraft parameter information from the aircraft.

21. The method of claim 20 and further comprising powering off the at least portions of the aircraft after receiving the aircraft parameter information.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein powering on the at least portions of the aircraft in the first mode comprises causing the at least portions of the aircraft to be coupled to a battery through the first bus.

23. The method of claim 22 and operating the aircraft in a second mode, comprising causing the second supply input of the avionics of theaircraft to be coupled to the switched power supply and distribution system through a second bus.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein causing the at least portions of the aircraft to be coupled to the switched power supply and distribution system in the second mode comprises causing portions of the aircraft in addition to the at least portions to be coupled to the switched power supply and distribution system.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein powering on the at least portions of the aircraft in the first mode includes powering on portions, but not all, of the aircraft.