UPGRADED FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THE SAME

摘要

A preexisting FMS system may be upgraded to increase its functionality while still taking advantage of certain components of the legacy system previously provided on the aircraft and replacing other preexisting components with different components for enhancing the functionality of the FMS system. The preexisting IRU, CADC, DME receiver and DFGC in the upgraded FMS system are in communication with the legacy AFMC but, instead of employing the legacy EFIS which existed in the preexisting FMS system, the EFIS is replaced by a data concentrator unit as well as the display control panel and integrated flat panel display, and a GPS receiver. The upgraded FMS system is capable of such increased functionality as increased navigation database storage capacity, RNP, VNAV and RNAV capability utilizing a GPS based navigation solution, and RTA capability, while still enabling the legacy AFMC to exploit its aircraft performance capabilities throughout the flight.

主权项

1. In an upgraded preexisting flight management system (FMS) having increased functionality over a preexisting FMS, the preexisting FMS having a legacy advanced flight management computer (AFMC) having aircraft performance capabilities exploitable throughout a flight of an aircraft having the preexisting FMS on board the aircraft, an inertial reference unit (IRU), a central air data computer (CADC), a distance measuring equipment (DME) receiver, and a digital flight guidance computer (DFGC), the IRU, CADC, DME receiver and DFGC being connected to the legacy AFMC, the improvement comprising:
a data concentrator unit, the CADC, and IRU being connected to the data concentrator unit for providing input information thereto, the data concentrator unit and the legacy AFMC being operatively connected to each other for exchanging input and output information therebetween, the DFGC being connected to the data concentrator unit for receiving output information therefrom; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operatively connected to the data concentrator unit for providing input information thereto; and a multipurpose control display unit (MCDU) comprising a microprocessor, a navigation (NAV) computer and a navigation database whereby the NAV computer and the navigation database are operatively connected to the data concentrator unit and the legacy AFMC and configured to:
generate a flight plan based on a received input,transfer a first subset of the flight plan to the legacy AFMC and a second subset of the flight plan to the navigation database, andoperate an autopilot function and an auto-throttle function based on the received input, and the upgraded preexisting FMS being capable of at least increased navigation database storage capacity, as well as required navigation performance (RNP), vertical navigation (VNAV), area navigation (RNAV) and required time of arrival (RTA) capability utilizing a GPS based navigation solution, while still enabling the legacy AFMC to exploit its aircraft performance capabilities throughout the flight of an aircraft having the upgraded preexisting FMS on board.