Patent ID: 6108595
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
An indicator device for indicating position of an aircraft, notably a helicopter, with respect to at least one beam, said at least one beam being obtained from a taxiway, a appropriate source, said indicator being mounted on said aircraft and comprising:a detection unit including at least one sensor capable of detecting said beam; anda display unit linked to said detection unit, wherein said detection unit determines the position of said aircraft with respect to said beam in at least one predefined direction and detects when said aircraft crosses said beam completely and said display unit includes:fixed first means for indicating the position of said aircraft;movable second means for indicating position of said beam in said predefined direction with respect to said aircraft, distance between said first and second means being proportional to angular deviation between said aircraft and said beam as seen from point of transmission of said beam in said predefined direction; andthird means indicating which way to steer said aircraft in said predefined direction to capture said beam, said third means being activated only when said aircraft has crossed said beam completely and is outside of the beam.