Detecting an incorrect altimeter setting
The disclosure is directed to techniques that use a data communication system such as ADS-B to provide an output to alert an aircraft operator of an incorrect barometric pressure setting for a pressure altimeter, and provide the correct altimeter setting. For example, the system may compile the ADS-B Out data from other aircraft operating near a first aircraft to provide the barometric pressure setting in use by the other aircraft. A system of this disclosure may identify the altimeter setting used by majority of the other aircraft in a region of airspace. If a first aircraft's current barometric altimeter setting is different from the setting of the majority of the nearby aircraft, then the system may generate an output to alert the operator of the first aircraft of a potential incorrect altimeter setting as well as provide a suggested barometric altimeter setting.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by processing circuitry on a first aircraft, a barometric pressure setting for a pressure altimeter on the first aircraft;
receiving, by the processing circuitry and via a communications device, a plurality of barometric pressure settings from a plurality of aircraft, wherein the plurality of aircraft does not include the first aircraft;
calculating, by the processing circuitry, a measure of central tendency for the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
comparing, by the processing circuitry, the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft to the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
determining, by the processing circuitry, that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
in response to determining that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings, generating, by the processing circuitry, an output indicating that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, causing, by the processing circuitry, the communications device to transmit the barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the communication device comprises an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transceiver.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of aircraft is in a vicinity of the first aircraft, wherein the vicinity comprises within a predetermined distance from an airport.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of aircraft is in a vicinity of the first aircraft, wherein the vicinity comprises within a predetermined three-dimensional distance from the first aircraft.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating an output comprises causing, by the processing circuitry, an output device to:
display the barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft;
display the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
display an indication that the barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft is different from the central tendency.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measure of central tendency is selected from a group comprising: arithmetic mean, median, and mode.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings comprises determining, by the processing circuitry, whether the difference between the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft and the central tendency exceeds a threshold difference.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via the communications device, the plurality of barometric pressure settings from the plurality of aircraft comprises, receiving signals comprising the plurality of barometric pressure settings from one or more ground stations or one or more orbiting satellites.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein during one or more predetermined high-workload phases of flight, the processing circuitry reduces a conspicuousness of the generated output.
11. A system comprising:
a pressure altimeter;
a communications device;
processing circuitry installed on a first aircraft, the processing circuitry in signal communication with the pressure altimeter and the communications device, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
receive a barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft;
receive via the communications device, a plurality of barometric pressure settings from a plurality of aircraft, wherein the plurality of aircraft does not include the first aircraft;
calculate a measure of central tendency for the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
compare the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft to the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
determine that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different by more than a threshold amount from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings; and
in response to determining that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings, generating an output indicating that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the communication device comprises an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transceiver.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to generate the output by causing an output device to:
display the barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft;
display the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
display an indication that the barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft is different from the central tendency.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to compare an altitude determined by the pressure altimeter to an altitude determined by one or more other altitude measurements.
15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing programmable processing circuitry to:
receive a barometric pressure setting for a pressure altimeter on a first aircraft, wherein the programmable processing circuitry is installed on the first aircraft and in signal communication with the pressure altimeter, a communications device and an output device, each of which is installed on the first aircraft;
receive via the communications device, a plurality of barometric pressure settings from a plurality of aircraft, wherein the plurality of aircraft does not include the first aircraft;
calculate a measure of central tendency for the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
compare the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft to the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
determine that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different by more than a threshold amount from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings; and
in response to determining that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings, generating an output indicating that the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the communication device comprises an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transceiver.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of aircraft is in a vicinity of the first aircraft, wherein the vicinity comprises within a predetermined radius of a three-dimensional distance from an airport.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the output device to:
display the barometric pressure setting for a pressure altimeter on the first aircraft;
display the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings;
display an indication that the barometric pressure setting for the pressure altimeter on the first aircraft is different from the central tendency.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the measure of central tendency is selected from a group comprising: arithmetic mean, median, and mode.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein to determine whether the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft is different from the measure of central tendency of the plurality of barometric pressure settings comprises the processing circuitry determining whether the difference between the barometric pressure setting for the first aircraft and the central tendency exceeds a threshold difference.