The present invention relates generally to time management devices for use by pilots and, more specifically, to a portable computer system that allows pilots to more efficiently and effectively manage the time-oriented and other aspects of their flights.
There are basically two areas in which pilots must adhere to time-sensitive procedures. The first are precision flight maneuvers in which time is critical to remain within certain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limits, and the other is to monitor flight progress and aircraft subsystems on a periodic basis to ensure safe and proper operation of the aircraft. A typical flight may be divided into the following phases: pre-flight, enroute, approach, holding and post-flight. The enroute route phase is made up of a series of legs between various waypoints. Pilots must monitor the actual time taken to fly each leg to obtain accurate fuel consumption information. During the approach and holding phases of the flight, the pilot typically must perform a series of precise, time-dependent maneuvers.
Before taking off, many pilots prepare a handwritten flight plan. This flight plan typically includes the waypoints that are to be flown during the flight. The handwritten flight plan is often attached to a knee board that is secured to the pilot""s leg for reference during the flight. To the extent it spans multiple pages, handwritten flight plans can be difficult to consult during the flight. They can also be difficult to read.
Furthermore, during each phase of the flight, pilots are often confronted with multiple demands on their attention and concentration. For example, in addition to flying the aircraft, pilots must typically handle all navigation and communication duties, monitor weather conditions, monitor the aircraft""s fuel supply and perform other such tasks. Pilots also must continually review and check cockpit indicators and gauges to monitor the condition and operation of the aircraft""s many subsystems. In particular, most aircraft have one or more cockpit displays that reveal the operating condition of the engine, the hydraulic systems, the electrical systems, the fuel systems, the landing gear systems, the auxiliary power units, if any, etc. Pilots flying in inclement weather, in close proximity to other aircraft or in other demanding conditions often neglect to continually scan their indicators and gauges. As a result, pilots may overlook the early warnings of an impending failure until it is too late to take corrective action.
While enroute, the pilot may also encounter an emergency situation. Most aircraft have emergency checklists identifying the corrective action to be taken in response to many different types of emergencies. Although these procedures are often contained in a loose-leaf, print format that is designed for relatively easy access, it can be difficult and/or time consuming to locate the specific pages corresponding to the particular emergency being faced. Flipping between multiple pages of the emergency checklist is similarly awkward especially where the pilot is busy controlling the flight characteristics of the aircraft as a result of the emergency.
In addition, the pilot may be interrupted during execution of the emergency checklist. For example, a call may come over the communications system that must be responded to or some other action may need to be taken. When the pilot returns to the checklist, he or she may forget the point at which he or she was interrupted. That is, the pilot may not remember which portions of the checklist have been completed and which portions still need to be completed.
Despite the importance of time-management during flight, the only devices currently available are conventional stopwatch timers and sweep second-hand stopwatches and clocks. Accordingly, a need exists for a more comprehensive and user-friendly device to assist pilots in time-management and other flight-related tasks.
Briefly, the present invention is directed to a system and method that facilitates the management of time-oriented and other flight-related tasks. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a hand-held computer having a microprocessor, a memory and a display/input screen. The microprocessor, which includes or is coupled to a timer, preferably executes one or more novel application programs that are configured to request information from and display or provide information to the pilot at appropriate times during a flight. The application program is preferably menu-driven so that the pilot may easily navigate among the various displays and retrieve desired information or initiate desired functionality, such as activating one-or-more-count-Tupor count-down timers or displaying one or more-electronic-checklists The system may also include a visual, tactile and/or aural warning element.
In a first aspect, the system, including the application program, is configured to display one or more bulletins at pre-arranged times during flight. More specifically, during the preflight phase, the pilot preferably programs the system to generate and display one or more bulletins prompting the pilot to check the status of specific aircraft subsystems or to perform some other flight-related tasks. The bulletins can be programmed to occur at a single preset time during the flight or they can be set to occur periodically throughout the flight. For example, the system can be programmed to display a first bulletin directing the pilot to check the engine oil and fuel systems every seven minutes, while a second bulletin prompts the pilot to check the generator or electrical subsystem only every fourteen minutes. As the flight progresses, the system automatically interrupts the current application or process and displays the bulletins at the programmed time intervals. Once the displayed task has been performed, the pilot preferably acknowledges its completion by pressing an xe2x80x9cacknowledgementxe2x80x9d key or button which may be displayed on the screen and/or may be remotely located from the system, e.g., a thumb switch coupled to the system. Following the acknowledgement, the application program preferably causes the next bulletin to be displayed at the appropriate time. If no acknowledgment is received after a pre-set time, the application program may activate the warning element.
In a second aspect, the system facilitates the creation of pilot reports (PIREPS). that can be transmitted by the pilot to an air traffic controller (ATC). PIREPS preferably follow a specific, FAA-approved format (e.g., sequence of information) and utilize a number of abbreviations that can be difficult to remember. Because of the complexity of the format and abbreviations, many pilots do not provide PIREPS. The application program is preferably configured to display one or more windows or menus, upon request, that solicit particular information from the pilot, including location, weather, etc., in an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand format. The program includes a PIREP conversion engine that translates the information provided by the pilot into a PIREP-compatible format for display. The pilot can then simply read the system generated and displayed PIREP over the aircraft""s communication subsystem to the ATC.
In a third aspect, the application program provides one or more novel timer displays to facilitate flying precision maneuvers, such as holding and approach maneuvers. Specifically, the application program is configured to generate an approach timer window that includes a settable pending timer field or window and an active timer field or window. Within the pending timer field, the pilot preferably enters the time value associated with flying the next leg or segment of the approach. When the pilot starts this leg, e.g., crosses the initial fix point, the pilot selects a start button. In response, the application program copies into the active timer field the time value that was entered in the pending timer field and begins a count-up or a count-down based on that time value. During execution of the first leg, the pilot can enter the time associated with the next approach leg in the pending timer field. At the end of the first leg, the pilot can again enter the start button causing the program to copy the newly entered time value from the pending timer window into the active timer window and to begin the count up or the count down. This process can be repeated until the pilot lands the aircraft.