Supporting an aircraft on a mission in which an intent of the aircraft is conveyed responsive to a lost-link event

1. An apparatus for supporting an aircraft to execute a mission in which the aircraft maneuvers in an airspace system, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store computer-readable program code; and

processing circuitry configured to access the memory, and execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to at least:

detect a lost-link event in which a datalink between the aircraft and a control station is interrupted or lost, and responsive to which the aircraft is preconfigured to execute a procedure; and

convey an intent of the aircraft to execute the procedure over a radio channel assigned for voice communication in the airspace system, conveying the intent including:

compose a message that indicates the intent of the aircraft to execute the procedure;

apply the message to a text-to-speech engine to convert the message to a corresponding verbal message in which the intent of the aircraft is conveyed;

monitor traffic on the radio channel to detect a gap in the traffic on the radio channel; and

send the corresponding verbal message over the radio channel assigned for voice communication in the airspace system during the gap in the traffic on the radio channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

determine a state of the mission; and

determine a parameter of the procedure that depends on the state of the mission, and

wherein the apparatus caused to compose the message includes the apparatus caused to apply the parameter to a message template to thereby compose the message.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the state of the mission, and the parameter of the procedure, are determined and updated as the mission is executed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the procedure is a lost-link procedure that is executable to cause the aircraft to land at an airport, and the parameter includes an identifier of the airport.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus caused to monitor the traffic on the radio channel includes the apparatus caused to:

capture verbal communications on the radio channel;

apply the verbal communications to a speech-to-text engine to convert the verbal communications to corresponding messages; and

perform a content analysis of the corresponding messages to identify a gap in the corresponding messages and thereby the gap in the traffic, the gap indicated by one of the corresponding messages without an expected response, or by a set of the corresponding messages that reflect a complete message exchange.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

cause the aircraft to execute the procedure responsive to the lost-link event; and

convey a status update with a corresponding verbal update message sent over the radio channel as the aircraft is caused to execute the procedure.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

determine a state of the aircraft or an environment of the aircraft; and

cause the aircraft to deviate from the procedure based on the state of the aircraft or the environment, and

wherein the apparatus caused to convey the status update includes the apparatus caused to convey deviation from the procedure.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus caused to convey the status update includes the apparatus caused to:

compose an update message that indicates the status update of the aircraft with regard to execution of the procedure;

apply the update message to the text-to-speech engine to convert the update message to the corresponding verbal update message in which the status update is conveyed; and

send the corresponding verbal update message over the radio channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

determine a state of the procedure; and

determine a parameter of the procedure that depends on the state of the procedure, and

wherein the apparatus caused to compose the update message includes the apparatus caused to apply the parameter to a message template to thereby compose the update message.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 ,

wherein the corresponding verbal update message is sent over the radio channel during the gap in the traffic on the radio channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus caused to monitor the traffic on the radio channel includes the apparatus caused to:

capture verbal communications on the radio channel;

apply the verbal communications to a speech-to-text engine to convert the verbal communications to corresponding messages; and

perform a content analysis of the corresponding messages to identify a gap in the corresponding messages and thereby the gap in the traffic, the gap indicated by one of the corresponding messages without an expected response, or by a set of the corresponding messages that reflect a complete message exchange.

12. A method of supporting an aircraft to execute a mission in which the aircraft maneuvers in an airspace system, the method comprising:

detecting a lost-link event in which a datalink between the aircraft and a control station is interrupted or lost, and responsive to which the aircraft is preconfigured to execute a procedure; and

conveying an intent of the aircraft to execute the procedure over a radio channel assigned for voice communication in the airspace system, conveying the intent including:

composing a message that indicates the intent of the aircraft to execute the procedure;

applying the message to a text-to-speech engine to convert the message to a corresponding verbal message in which the intent of the aircraft is conveyed;

monitoring traffic on the radio channel to detect a gap in the traffic on the radio channel; and

sending the corresponding verbal message over the radio channel assigned for voice communication in the airspace system during the gap in the traffic on the radio channel.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a state of the mission; and

determining a parameter of the procedure that depends on the state of the mission, and

wherein composing the message includes applying the parameter to a message template to thereby compose the message.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the state of the mission, and the parameter of the procedure, are determined and updated as the mission is executed.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the procedure is a lost-link procedure that is executable to cause the aircraft to land at an airport, and the parameter includes an identifier of the airport.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein monitoring the traffic on the radio channel includes:

capturing verbal communications on the radio channel;

applying the verbal communications to a speech-to-text engine to convert the verbal communications to corresponding messages; and

performing a content analysis of the corresponding messages to identify a gap in the corresponding messages and thereby the gap in the traffic, the gap indicated by one of the corresponding messages without an expected response, or by a set of the corresponding messages that reflect a complete message exchange.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:

causing the aircraft to execute the procedure responsive to the lost-link event; and

conveying a status update with a corresponding verbal update message sent over the radio channel as the aircraft is caused to execute the procedure.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a state of the aircraft or an environment of the aircraft; and

causing the aircraft to deviate from the procedure based on the state of the aircraft or the environment, and

wherein conveying the status update includes conveying deviation from the procedure.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein conveying the status update includes:

composing an update message that indicates the status update of the aircraft with regard to execution of the procedure;

applying the update message to the text-to-speech engine to convert the update message to the corresponding verbal update message in which the status update is conveyed; and

sending the corresponding verbal update message over the radio channel.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a state of the procedure; and

determining a parameter of the procedure that depends on the state of the procedure, and

wherein composing the update message includes applying the parameter to a message template to thereby compose the update message.

21. The method of claim 19 ,

wherein the corresponding verbal update message is sent over the radio channel during the gap in the traffic on the radio channel.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein monitoring the traffic on the radio channel includes:

capturing verbal communications on the radio channel;

applying the verbal communications to a speech-to-text engine to convert the verbal communications to corresponding messages; and

performing a content analysis of the corresponding messages to identify a gap in the corresponding messages and thereby the gap in the traffic, the gap indicated by one of the corresponding messages without an expected response, or by a set of the corresponding messages that reflect a complete message exchange.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

responsive to a disruption in the airspace system, provide an air navigation service provider with an ability to modify a behavior of the aircraft during the lost-link event.

24. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

responsive to a disruption in the airspace system, providing an air navigation service provider with an ability to modify a behavior of the aircraft during the lost-link event.