EP-4738312-A1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALIDATING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MESSAGES

EP4738312A1EP 4738312 A1EP4738312 A1EP 4738312A1EP-4738312-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for validating air traffic control (ATC) messages. A first ATC message including an ATC flight parameter is received from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft. Dynamic data comprising a validation flight parameter is received from a dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft. A determination is made regarding whether the ATC flight parameter matches the validation flight parameter. A flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter is generated for display on a display device of the aircraft based on the determination.

Inventors

SAPTHARISHI, SIVARAMAN
BALADHANDAPANI, Gobinathan
M, Karthikeyan

Assignees

Honeywell International Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251013

Claims (15)

An air traffic control (ATC) message validation system comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory comprising instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive a first ATC message comprising a first ATC flight parameter from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft; receive first dynamic data comprising a first validation flight parameter from a dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft; determine whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter; and generate a flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter for display on a display device of the aircraft based on the determination.
The system of claim 1, wherein the first ATC message comprises an aircraft specific ATC message.
The system of claim 2, wherein the first ATC flight parameter comprises one of, an aircraft landing parameter, an aircraft departure parameter, an aircraft traffic parameter, a ground traffic parameter, a runway identifier parameter, an assigned flight level parameter, a runway taxiway identifier parameter, a frequency parameter, a hold short point parameter, and a heading change parameter.
The system of claim 1, wherein the first ATC message comprises a broadcast ATC message.
The system of claim 4, wherein the first ATC flight parameter comprises one of an external environment parameter and a mean sea level pressure (QNH) parameter.
The system of claim 1, wherein, the dynamic data source comprises at least one of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), radiotelephony (RTF), Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC), an Internet-linked device, and an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS).
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory comprises further instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: transcribe the first ATC message to generate a first ATC text message using a transcription engine; and extract the first ATC flight parameter from the first ATC text message.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory comprises further instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive a first traffic ATC message comprising a second validation flight parameter via the ATC communication channel at the communication system of the aircraft; determine whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the second validation flight parameter; and generate the flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter for display on the display device of the aircraft based on the determination.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory comprises further instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: transcribe the first traffic ATC message to generate a first traffic ATC text message using a transcription engine; and extract the second validation flight parameter from the first traffic ATC text message.
The system of claim 1, wherein, the at least one memory comprises further instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: identify a first time-stamp associated with the first ATC message; receive a second ATC message comprising a second ATC flight parameter from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft; identify a second time-stamp associated with the second ATC message; and upon a determination that the first time-stamp precedes the second time-stamp determine whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory comprises further instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: identify a third time-stamp associated with the first dynamic data; receive second dynamic data comprising a third validation flight parameter from the dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft; identify a fourth time-stamp associated with the second dynamic data; and upon a determination that the third time-stamp precedes the fourth time-stamp determine whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter.
The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory comprises further instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: based upon a determination that the first ATC flight parameter does match the first validation flight parameter, generate a prompt for display on the display device; and upon activation of the prompt via a vehicle input device, provide the first ATC flight parameter to a flight control system (FCS) of the aircraft to enable the FCS to actuate at least one aircraft system in accordance with the first ATC flight parameter.
A method of validating air traffic control (ATC) messages, comprising: receiving a first ATC message comprising a first ATC flight parameter from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft; receiving first dynamic data comprising a first validation flight parameter from a dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft; determining whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter; and generating a flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter for display on a display device of the aircraft based on the determination.
The method of claim 13, wherein the first ATC message comprises an aircraft specific ATC message and the first ATC flight parameter comprises one of, an aircraft landing parameter, an aircraft departure parameter, an aircraft traffic parameter, a ground traffic parameter, a runway identifier parameter, an assigned flight level parameter, a runway taxiway identifier parameter, a frequency parameter, a hold short point parameter, and a heading change parameter.
The method of claim 13, wherein the first ATC message comprises a broadcast ATC message and the first ATC flight parameter comprises one of an external environment parameter and a mean sea level pressure (QNH) parameter.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to India Provisional Patent Application No. 202411084618, filed November 5, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to aircraft operations and more particularly relates to systems and methods for validating air traffic control messages. BACKGROUND During the landing and take-off phases of flight of an aircraft, air traffic control (ATC) issues ATC clearance messages to the aircraft. The flight crew of the aircraft often have a relatively high workload during the landing and take-off phases of flight and rely on the ATC clearance messages to implement aircraft operations. Errors in the ATC clearance messages due to lapses in ATC message communications and situational misinterpretations based on incorrect assumptions and/or perceptions may lead to aircraft operation implementation errors by the flight crew. Hence, there is a need for systems and methods for validating air traffic control messages. BRIEF SUMMARY This summary is provided to describe select concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. An air traffic control (ATC) validation system including at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one memory includes instructions that, upon execution by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive a first ATC message including a first ATC flight parameter from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft; receive first dynamic data including a first validation flight parameter from a dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft; determine whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter; and generate a flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter for display on a display device of the aircraft based on the determination. A method of validating air traffic control (ATC) messages, including: receiving a first ATC message including a first ATC flight parameter from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft; receiving first dynamic data including a first validation flight parameter from a dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft; determining whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter; and generating a flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter for display on a display device of the aircraft based on the determination. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that stores instructions executable by at least one processor, the instructions configurable to cause the at least one processor to perform operations including: receiving a first ATC message including a first ATC flight parameter from ATC via an ATC communication channel at a communication system of an aircraft; receiving first dynamic data including a first validation flight parameter from a dynamic data source via the communication system of the aircraft; determining whether the first ATC flight parameter matches the first validation flight parameter; and generating a flight parameter mismatch indication associated with the first ATC flight parameter for display on a display device of the aircraft based on the determination. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the systems and methods for validating air traffic control messages will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of a system configured to validate air traffic control (ATC) messages in accordance with least one embodiment;FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of a controller onboard an aircraft including an ATC message validation system in accordance with at least one embodiment;FIG. 3 is a flowchart representation of a method of validating ATC messages in accordance with at least one embodiment; andFIG. 4 is an exemplary ATC message validation display in accordance with at least one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature. As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Thus, any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as