초록 ▼

An instrument landing system (ILS) provides signals in space receivable by an aircraft in flight to identify, for example, a point in space at which to start an approach along a glide slope path to a touchdown point on a runway. Atmospheric, ground and other conditions may cause transmission anomali

An instrument landing system (ILS) provides signals in space receivable by an aircraft in flight to identify, for example, a point in space at which to start an approach along a glide slope path to a touchdown point on a runway. Atmospheric, ground and other conditions may cause transmission anomalies, so that the ILS signals identify a point in space displaced from its intended position. Systems and methods employed in flight use GPS or other positional data to determine the current displacement of such point, as identified by received ILS signals, from its intended position consistent with ILS specifications. In addition to reception and use of ILS and GPS signals, data on geographic runway location and correct ILS signal in space parameters is used for reference purposes in determining signal in space position discrepancies, glide slope path angular discrepancies, or both. The pilot can be alerted not to rely upon the ILS when discrepancies, which can vary on a short time basis and not be discernable from the ground, are determined to exceed safe limits.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system, to enable in-flight verification of an instrument landing system (ILS) transmission, comprising: a first unit, responsive to in-flight reception of an ILS transmission to provide a first output indicative of a point in space representative of a predetermined feature

What is claimed is: 1. A system, to enable in-flight verification of an instrument landing system (ILS) transmission, comprising: a first unit, responsive to in-flight reception of an ILS transmission to provide a first output indicative of a point in space representative of a predetermined feature of an ILS approach to a runway; a second unit, responsive to received positional data, to provide a second output based on reception and processing of GPS signals and representative of the actual location in space of the point in space indicated by said first output; a database access facility arranged to enable access to at least one database to provide a data output representing data usable to determine an intended spatial characteristic of said feature consistent with accurate ILS operation; and a third unit, responsive to said first, second and data outputs and arranged to provide a discrepancy output representative of a discrepancy between said intended spatial characteristic and said actual location in space. 2. A system as in claim 1, additionally comprising: an indicator unit, responsive to said discrepancy output, to provide an output indicative of discrepancy exceeding a predetermined discrepancy level. 3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said first unit provides a first output indicative of a point in space relative to a glide slope path of the ILS approach. 4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said first unit provides a first output indicative of a point in space representing intersection by an aircraft of an ILS signal representative of an ILS approach feature. 5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said first output is used to trigger capture of positional data included in said second output. 6. A system as in claim 1, wherein said database access facility is arranged to access at least one database to provide a data output representing geographical runway location and ILS approach path configuration. 7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said database access facility is arranged to access at least one database to provide a data output representing data usable to determine the intended location of said point in space consistent with accurate ILS operation. 8. A system as in claim 1, wherein said third unit is arranged to provide a discrepancy output representative of an ILS glide path angle discrepancy. 9. A system as in claim 1, wherein said third unit is arranged to provide a discrepancy output representative of an ILS localizer course positional discrepancy. 10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said third unit is one of a flight management system and a central processor unit. 11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said third unit is arranged to provide a discrepancy output indicative of a discrepancy relative to ILS operational tolerances. 12. A method, to enable in-flight verification of an instrument landing system (ILS) transmission, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first output indicative of in-flight reception of an ILS transmission representative of a point in space relevant to a predetermined feature of an ILS approach to a runway; (b) utilizing positional information from a source other than said ILS to provide a second output representative of the actual location in space of the point in space indicated by said first output; (c) providing a data output representative of ILS approach specification data and usable to determine a spatial characteristic of said feature consistent with accurate ILS operation; and (d) providing, with use of said first, second and data outputs, an approximation of a level of error regarding said feature of the ILS approach. 13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said first output is indicative of the location in space of an ILS glide slope path. 14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said approximation of a level of error is representative of an ILS glide path angle discrepancy. 15. A method, to enable in-flight verification of an instrument landing system (ILS) transmission, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first output indicative of in-flight reception of an ILS transmission representative of a point in space relevant to a predetermined feature of an ILS approach to a runway; (b) utilizing positional information from a source other than said ILS to provide a second output representative of the actual location in space of the point in space indicated by said first output; (c) providing a data output representative of geographical runway location and ILS approach specification data and usable to determine the intended location of said point in space consistent with accurate ILS operation; (d) providing, with use of said first, second and data outputs, an approximation of a level of error, regarding said aspect of the ILS approach, representative of a variation between said intended and actual in-space locations and (e) providing, in response to said approximation, an indication upon said level of error exceeding a predetermined value. 16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first output is indicative of the location in space of an ILS glide slope path. 17. A method as in claim 15, wherein said second output is based on reception and processing of GPS signals. 18. A method as in claim 15, wherein said second output is based at least partially on altitude data. 19. A method as in claim 15, wherein said first output is used to trigger capture of positional data included in said second output. 20. A method as in claim 15, wherein said approximation of a level of error is representative of an ILS glide path angle discrepancy. 21. A method as in claim 15, wherein said approximation of a level of error relates to an error relative to ILS operational tolerances. 22. A method as in claim 15, wherein said indication provided in step (e) comprises at least one of a visual presentation and an aura presentation. 23. A system, to enable in-flight verification of an instrument landing system (ILS) transmission, comprising: a first unit, responsive to in-flight reception of an ILS transmission, to provide a first output indicative of a point in space representative of a predetermined feature of an ILS approach to a runway; a second unit, responsive to received positional data, to provide a second output based at least partially on altitude data and representative of the actual location in space of the point in space indicated by said first output; a database access facility arranged to enable access to at least one database to provide a data output representing data usable to determine an intended spatial characteristic of said feature consistent with accurate ILS operation; and a third unit, responsive to said first, second and data outputs and arranged to provide a discrepancy output representative of a discrepancy between said intended spatial characteristic and said actual location in space. 24. A system as in claim 23, additionally comprising: an indicator unit, responsive to said discrepancy output, to provide an output indicative of discrepancy exceeding a predetermined discrepancy level. 25. A system as in claim 23, wherein said first unit provides a first output indicative of a point in space relative to a glide slope path of the ILS approach. 26. A system as in claim 23, wherein said first output is used to trigger capture of positional data included in said second output. 27. A system as in claim 23, wherein said third unit is arranged to provide a discrepancy output representative of an ILS glide path angle discrepancy.