Threat avoidance system and methods using adjustments to built-in values

Abstract

A system for enhancing flight safety of a host aircraft receives an adjustment value from a portable memory device; determines a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value; and provides an advice for threat avoidance in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft. The adjustment value may describe an adjustment to at least one of: an aircraft capability parameter, a flight crew capability parameter, a mission parameter, a threat detection technique parameter, a threat advice parameter, or a threat avoidance parameter. Threats include a risk of colliding with other aircraft, colliding with terrain, and encountering adverse weather conditions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system installed on the host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising: 
 a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;    b. means for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and    c. means for threat avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for receiving comprises a PCMCIA interface for operation with the portable memory device.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for determining comprises means for assigning the adjustment value to the working value.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for determining comprises means for selecting, in accordance with the adjustment value, a built-in value for the working value.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for determining comprises means for combining the adjustment value and a built-in value to provide the working value.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the means for combining combines in accordance with at least one of addition and subtraction.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the means for combining combines in accordance with at least one of multiplication and division.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the parameter describes a flight crew capability.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the parameter describes a mission of the host aircraft.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for threat avoidance comprises means for performing a threat detection technique in accordance with a threat detection technique parameter that comprises the working value of the parameter.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for threat avoidance provides the advice in accordance with a threat advice parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for threat avoidance comprises a threat avoidance parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.  
     
     
         13 . A method for enhancing flight safety of an aircraft, the method comprising: 
 a. a step for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;    b. a step for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than terrain and expected climb gradient; and    c. a step for providing an advice for threat avoidance in accordance with the working value of the parameter, a terrain database, and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step for receiving comprises a receiving via a PCMCIA interface in operation with the portable memory device.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step for determining comprises a step for assigning the adjustment value to the working value.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step for determining comprises a step for selecting, in accordance with the adjustment value, a built-in value for the working value.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step for determining comprises a step for combining the adjustment value and a built-in value to provide the working value.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step for combining comprises at least one of a step for adding and a step for subtracting.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step for combining comprises at least one of a step for multiplying and a step for dividing.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the parameter describes a flight crew capability.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the parameter describes a mission of the host aircraft.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step for threat avoidance comprises step for performing a threat detection technique in accordance with a threat detection technique parameter that comprises the working value of the parameter.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step for threat avoidance provides the advice in accordance with a threat advice parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein providing an advice for threat avoidance is performed in accordance with a threat avoidance parameter comprising the working value of the parameter.  
     
     
         25 . A system installed on the host aircraft for enhancing flight safety of the host aircraft, the system comprising: 
 a. means for receiving an adjustment value from a portable memory device;    b. means for determining a working value of a parameter in accordance with the adjustment value, the parameter describing other than expected climb gradient; and    c. means for traffic collision avoidance that provides an advice in accordance with the working value of the parameter and an expected climb gradient capability of the host aircraft.