SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING VISIBILITY OF CRITICAL FLIGHT INFORMATION ON AIRCRAFT DISPLAYS

摘要

An improved system and method for increasing the visibility of critical flight information on aircraft displays, such as, for example, Primary Flight Displays are disclosed. For example, an aircraft display system is disclosed that includes a processing unit, a flight management system, a navigation system, a database for storing target data and terrain data, a graphics display generator, and a visual display. The flight management system and/or the navigation system provide real-time aircraft operational and flight control information. The processing unit directs the graphics display generator to generate graphic control signals for the visual display, which increase the transparency of a segment of a zero pitch reference line in the vicinity of a flight path marker on the display. Thus, critical flight information in the vicinity of the flight path marker is not obscured by the zero pitch reference line displayed in that vicinity, which enhances a flight crew's situational awareness and facilitates aircraft control. The processing unit also increases the transparency of any flight path information indicator (e.g., heading, course, track indicator) that is located near the generated segment of the zero pitch reference line, and the transparency of the zero pitch reference line where it coincides with any flight information tape or scale (e.g., airspeed tape, altitude tape, etc.) being displayed. Consequently, critical flight information near the segment of the zero pitch reference line in the vicinity of the flight path marker is not obscured by the flight path information indicator being displayed in that vicinity, and the readings on the flight information tapes are not obscured by the zero pitch reference line.