Systems and methods for graphically indicating aircraft ascent and descent capabilities

1. A method that presents graphical information indicating capability of an aircraft to change altitude, the method comprising:

determining an altitude change capability of the aircraft;

determining an altitude change capability icon based on the determined altitude change capability of the aircraft,

wherein the altitude change capability icon is defined by at least a leading portion, a trailing portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion,

wherein a slope of the leading portion of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to the determined altitude change capability of the aircraft, and

wherein the leading portion and the trailing portion are separated by at least the top portion and the bottom portion; and

communicating the altitude change capability icon to a display for presentation to the crew of the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altitude change capability icon is presented as a two dimensional trapezoid, wherein the leading portion, the trailing portion, the top portion and the bottom portion are corresponding edges of the presented two dimensional trapezoid.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the altitude change capability icon is presented as a three dimensional trapezoid, wherein the leading portion, the trailing portion, the top portion and the bottom portion are corresponding surfaces of the presented two dimensional trapezoid.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the top portion and the bottom portion of the altitude change capability icon is presented at an altitude that corresponds to a specified altitude.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the top portion and the bottom portion of the altitude change capability icon is presented at a current altitude of the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information corresponding to a desired altitude change, wherein the desired altitude change is specified by the crew of the aircraft, and wherein the altitude change capability is estimated based on the specified desired altitude.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information corresponding to a current speed of the aircraft, and wherein the altitude change capability is estimated based on the current speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information corresponding to a desired speed of the aircraft, wherein the desired speed is specified by the crew of the aircraft, and wherein the altitude change capability is estimated based on the specified desired speed.

9. The method of claim 1 , when the altitude change is an ascent, the slope of the leading portion of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to a maximum ascent capability of the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 1 , when the altitude change is an ascent, the slope of the leading edge of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to a predefined ascent rate of the aircraft.

11. The method of claim 1 , when the altitude change is a descent, the slope of the leading edge of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to a predefined descent rate of the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information corresponding to a change in prevailing wind speed in proximity to the aircraft;

determining an updated altitude change capability icon based on the change in prevailing wind speed; and

communicating the updated altitude change capability icon to the display for presentation to the crew of the aircraft.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving information corresponding to a change in a weight of the aircraft;

determining an updated altitude change capability icon based on the change in weight; and

communicating the updated altitude change capability icon to the display for presentation to the crew of the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a slope of the trailing portion of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to the altitude change capability of the aircraft.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an elevational flight path line that indicates altitude and location of the aircraft if the aircraft substantially follows a flight path corresponding to change in altitude indicated by the altitude change capability icon; and

incorporating the elevational flight path line into the altitude change capability icon.

16. A system configured present graphical information indicating capability of an aircraft to change altitude, the system comprising:

a user interface configured to receive information corresponding to a desired change in altitude;

a memory configured to store aircraft attribute parameters, wherein the aircraft attribute parameters affect the ability of the aircraft to change altitude; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the user interface and the memory, wherein the processing system is configured to:

determine an altitude change capability of the aircraft based on the stored aircraft attribute parameters;

determine an altitude change capability icon based on the determined altitude change capability of the aircraft,

wherein the altitude change capability icon is defined by at least a leading portion, a trailing portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion,

wherein a slope of the leading portion of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to the determined altitude change capability of the aircraft, and

wherein the leading portion and the trailing portion are separated by at least the top portion and the bottom portion; and

a display system communicatively coupled to the processing system and configured to receive the altitude change capability icon from the processing system, wherein the altitude change capability icon is presentable on a display of the display system.

17. The system of claim 16 , the altitude change capability icon is presented as a two dimensional trapezoid, wherein the leading portion, the trailing portion, the top portion and the bottom portion are corresponding edges of the presented two dimensional trapezoid.

18. The system of claim 16 , the altitude change capability icon is presented as a three dimensional trapezoid, wherein the leading portion, the trailing portion, the top portion and the bottom portion are corresponding surfaces of the presented two dimensional trapezoid.

19. The system of claim 16 , the altitude change capability icon is determined based on the location of another aircraft identified by a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS).