Avionics Interface

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for an avionics interface of an aircraft. Sensors of the aircraft may convey information that can be used in the generation of one or more of the avionics interfaces. An avionics interface may include navigation information, engine instrument information, and communication information. Such information may be provided in visually distinct regions of the interface. An avionics interface may show an angle of attack of the aircraft in a visually incorporated manner with a navigation display. In some instances, the avionics interface may be variable to match pilot preference.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying the angle of attack of an aircraft to a pilot user, such method comprising:
 determining an angle of attack from a sensor mounted on the aircraft;   displaying a visual representation of the aircraft with a longitudinal axis of that representation being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aircraft; and   displaying the angle of attack with an angle of attack indicator as part of the visual representation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visual representation of the aircraft may also indicate the pitch, bank and/or heading of the aircraft. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the angle of attack indicator is formed of a position of a tail portion of the visual representation of the aircraft relative to a body of the visual representation of the aircraft and the vertical position of tail portion relative to the body is indicative of the angle of attack of the aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the angle of attack indicator is formed of a visual representation of wings of the visual representation of the aircraft and the wings change visual representation depending on whether the angle of attack of the aircraft is within an acceptable range, approaching an unacceptable range or at or above an acceptable range. 
     
     
         5 . A method for displaying the slip or skid of an aircraft to the pilot user, such method comprising:
 determining yaw of the aircraft with a yaw sensor mounted on the aircraft; and displaying a visual representation of the aircraft with a longitudinal axis of that representation being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aircraft; and   displaying yaw of the aircraft with a slip/skid indicator as part of the visual representation.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the visual representation of the aircraft may also indicate the pitch, bank and/or heading of the aircraft. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein a horizontal position of the tail portion of the visual representation of the aircraft relative to the body of the visual representation of the aircraft is indicative of the slip/skid of the aircraft. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the tail portion changes visual representation depending on whether the slip/skid of the aircraft is within an acceptable range, approaching an unacceptable range or at or above an acceptable range. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for displaying the angle of attack of an aircraft to a pilot user, such method comprising:
 means for determining an angle of attack from a sensor mounted on the aircraft;   means for displaying a visual representation of the aircraft with a longitudinal axis of that representation being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aircraft; and   means for displaying the angle of attack with an angle of attack indicator as part of the visual representation.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the visual representation of the aircraft may also indicate the pitch, bank and/or heading of the aircraft. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the angle of attack indicator is formed of a position of a tail portion of the visual representation of the aircraft relative to a body of the visual representation of the aircraft and the vertical position of tail portion relative to the body is indicative of the angle of attack of the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the angle of attack indicator is formed of a visual representation of wings of the visual representation of the aircraft and the wings change visual representation depending on whether the angle of attack of the aircraft is within an acceptable range, approaching an unacceptable range or at or above an acceptable range.