IP Library Granted Patent US 12,175,874
Granted Patent B2
US 12,175,874 · App. 17/718,821 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Method and system for updating a flight plan

Inventor: Stefan Schwindt (Cheltenham, GB)
Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
G08G5/0039G08G5/0013G08G5/0021G08G5/0047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,175,874
App. No.
17/718,821
Filed
Apr 12, 2022
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3669
USPC
701/3
Abstract

A method for updating a flight plan by an avionics device includes receiving a first flight plan comprising a first set of flight parameters having at least one fuel-related first flight parameter, receiving a second flight plan for a subsequent second flight, the second flight plan based on a fuel remaining in the aircraft without refueling subsequent to the first flight, and receiving an update to the first flight plan. The method further includes, determining, with the avionics device, a set of first updated flight parameters comprising at least one fuel-related first updated flight parameter, determining, whether the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will satisfy predetermined criteria of the second flight plan, and when the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will not satisfy the predetermined criteria, displaying a first notification onboard the aircraft, and receiving a selection of a refueling locations.

Claims (38)

1. A method for updating a flight plan by an avionics device for an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving a first flight plan for a first flight comprising a first set of flight parameters having at least one fuel-related first flight parameter;

receiving a second flight plan for a subsequent second flight, the second flight plan based on a fuel remaining in the aircraft without refueling subsequent to the first flight;

receiving an update to the first flight plan;1s=

determining, based on the update to the first flight plan, a set of first updated flight parameters comprising at least one fuel-related first updated flight parameter;

determining, whether the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will satisfy predetermined criteria of the second flight plan; and when the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will not satisfy the predetermined criteria,

automatically displaying a first notification onboard the aircraft; and

receiving a selection of a refueling location based on the first notification, wherein the update to the first flight plan is based on a determined need for an aviation service to equipment onboard the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising navigating the aircraft to the selected refueling location.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising refueling the aircraft prior to executing the second flight plan.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising updating the second flight plan based on the refueling.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will not satisfy the predetermined criteria, determining a set of refueling locations; and

wherein the first notification includes an indication of the set of refueling locations.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining a relative ranking of each refueling location with respect to the other refueling locations; and

wherein the first notification includes an indication of the relative ranking of each refueling location with respect to the other refueling locations.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first notification includes a prompt to a user to select a refueling location.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising automatically triggering a first message to a selected refueling location.

9. The method of claim 1 , further including automatically displaying a second notification onboard the aircraft indicative of the determined need for an aviation service to equipment onboard the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a set of aviation service locations; and

wherein the second notification includes an indication of the set of aviation service locations.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second notification includes a prompt to a user to select an aviation service location.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising automatically triggering a second message to a selected aviation service location to request an aviation service action to equipment onboard the aircraft.

13. A system for an aircraft, comprising:

an avionics device adapted to update a first flight plan, and configured to:

store a first flight plan for a first flight comprising a first set of flight parameters having at least one fuel-related first flight parameter;

store a second flight plan for a subsequent second flight, the second flight plan based on a fuel remaining in the aircraft without refueling subsequent to the first flight;

receive an update to the first flight plan wherein the update to the first flight plan is based on a determined need for an aviation service to equipment onboard the aircraft;

determine, based on the update to the first flight plan, a set of first updated flight parameters comprising at least one fuel-related first updated flight parameter;

determine, for the second flight plan, whether the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will satisfy predetermined criteria of the second flight plan; and when the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will not satisfy the predetermined criteria,

automatically display a first notification onboard the aircraft; and

receive a selection of a refueling location.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the avionics device is further configured to determine a set of refueling locations when the fuel-related first updated flight parameter will not satisfy the predetermined criteria; and

indicate the set of refueling locations in the first notification.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the avionics device is further configured to determine, based on predetermined criteria, a relative ranking of each determined refueling location with respect to the other refueling locations; and

indicate in the first notification the relative ranking of each refueling location with respect to the other refueling locations.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the avionics device is further configured to automatically trigger a first message to a selected one of the refueling locations to request fuel.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the avionics device is further configured to automatically trigger a second notification to display onboard the aircraft indicative of determined need for an aviation service to the aircraft.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the second notification further includes an indication of a set of aviation service locations.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: SCHWINDT, STEFAN
To: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059574/0498 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 21170563 · Apr 26, 2021 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220343771A1 · Oct 27, 2022