Patent ID: 9646504
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B64D,G08G

Claim:
1. A method for displaying traffic information on a traffic display unit onboard a trailing aircraft, comprising: (a) operating a pilot interface to select a magnitude of a reference separation distance; (b) acquiring data representing a current position and a current heading of the trailing aircraft; (c) acquiring data representing a current position and a current heading of a leading aircraft flying in front of the trailing aircraft; (d) displaying first symbology that indicates the current position and current heading of the leading aircraft relative to a frame of reference; (e) displaying second symbology that indicates the current position and current heading of the trailing aircraft relative to the frame of reference; (f) displaying third symbology representing a reference separation distance between the leading and trailing aircraft; (g) calculating a current separation distance between the leading and trailing aircraft based on the current positions of the leading and trailing aircraft; and (h) generating an alert in response to the current separation distance calculated in step (g) being within a specified tolerance of the reference separation distance.