Patent ID: 6297749
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A system for piloting an aircraft in a smoke filled cockpit of the aircraft, the system comprising a face mask configured to surround a pilot's eyes and form an airtight seal against the pilot's face, the face mask including a screen viewable by the pilot for displaying minimum aircraft operating system information and external aircraft image scenes, the display screen including signal path means for providing the display screen with signals from instrument display sources and external environmental sensing systems of the aircraft, the display screen includes a first section for displaying equipment instrument information from instrument display sources of the equipment, a second section for normal viewing through the face mask, and a third section for displaying external image information from external environmental sensing systems of the equipment, and a hand-operated communication device that enables non-verbal communication with an air traffic controller, the communication device includes recording playback means for storing and playing pre-recorded messages which can be transmitted by the aircraft's radio transmission system to the air traffic controller, wherein the communication device being operable during an emergency situation when said smoke fills said cockpit and vision of said pilot is obscured.