Systems and methods for displaying position sensitive datalink messages on avionics displays
Systems and methods for displaying position sensitive datalink messages on avionics displays are provided. In one embodiment, a flight deck instrument display system for an aircraft comprises: a flight plan display screen that displays a graphical representation of at least a part of an aircraft's planned flight path together with symbology representing a position of the aircraft with respect to the aircraft's planned flight path; wherein the flight plan display screen further displays at least one symbol positioned along the graphical representation of at least a part of the aircraft's planned flight path that indicates a point of applicability for a received uplink datalink message.
1. An instrument display system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
a flight plan display screen that displays a graphical representation of at least a part of an aircraft's planned flight path together with symbology representing a position of the aircraft with respect to the aircraft's planned flight path;
wherein the flight plan display screen further displays at least one symbol positioned along the graphical representation of at least a part of the aircraft's planned flight path, wherein the flight plan display screen locates the at least one symbol at a position that indicates a point of applicability along the aircraft's planned flight path for a received uplink datalink message;
wherein the received uplink datalink message includes a conditional clearance request; and
wherein the at least one symbol on the flight plan display screen indicates a margin until a condition specified by the conditional clearance request is met based on current aircraft conditions.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one symbol is positioned along the aircraft's planned flight path at a waypoint specified in the received uplink datalink message.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a human-machine interface;
wherein when a user selects the at least one symbol on the flight plan display screen using the human-machine interface, the flight plan display screen displays contents of the uplink datalink message with one or more applicable action buttons.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the point of applicability for the received uplink datalink message is derived from contents of the received uplink datalink message.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the point of applicability for the received uplink datalink message is selectable by a pilot.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a human-machine interface;
wherein when a user selects the at least one symbol on the flight plan display screen using the human-machine interface, the flight plan display screen displays an action specified by the conditional clearance request.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one symbol on the flight plan display screen indicates a position where the condition specified by the conditional clearance request is predicted to become satisfied.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one symbol further includes an action alert when the aircraft comes within a predefined threshold of satisfying the condition, wherein the action alert displays the action specified by the conditional clearance request.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the margin is expressed as a time margin, a distance margin, or an altitude margin.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one symbol further includes one or both of a vertical error symbol and a lateral error symbol;
wherein the vertical error symbol and the lateral error symbol indicate a tolerance for satisfying the condition when the aircraft has deviated from the aircraft's planned flight path.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight plan display screen is implemented in one of either:
on-board aircraft avionics; or
an air traffic control center.
12. A method for contextual displaying uplink messages on a flight plan display screen, the method comprising:
receiving an uplink datalink message;
associating the uplink datalink message with a point of applicability along a planned flight path;
displaying a representation of the planned flight path on the flight plan display screen; and
positioning a symbol on the flight plan display screen along the representation of the planned flight path at a position indicating the point of applicability;
wherein the received uplink datalink message includes a conditional clearance request; and
wherein the at least one symbol on the flight plan display screen indicates a margin until a condition specified by the conditional clearance request is met based on current aircraft conditions.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
displaying additional contents of the uplink datalink message on the flight plan display screen when the symbol is selected using a human-machine interface.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the symbol indicates a position where a condition specified by the conditional clearance request is predicted to become satisfied.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the symbol on the flight plan display screen further includes an action alert when the aircraft comes within a predefined threshold of satisfying the condition, wherein the action alert displays an action specified by the conditional clearance request.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the symbol on the flight plan display screen further includes one or both of a vertical error symbol and a lateral error symbol;
wherein the vertical error symbol and the lateral error symbol indicate a tolerance for satisfying the condition when the aircraft has deviated from the aircraft's planned flight path.