Patent ID: 6271768
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
A display system for use with a close formation collision avoidance system for a host follower aircraft, the system compromising:a data link transponder, said transponder generating and transmitting broadcast data, the broadcast data comprising aircraft position information of the host follower aircraft;a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) computer in communication with said transponder for receiving and processing broadcast data from a second data link transponder located onboard a lead aircraft to determine relative aircraft position of the host follower aircraft with respect to the lead aircraft; anda display for displaying broadcast data to an operator of the host follower aircraft, the broadcast data comprising the relative locations of the lead aircraft and a plurality of other intra-formation follower aircraft, each of the other intra-formation follower aircraft being characterized symbolically by an icon and adjacent indicia comprising the relative velocity between said intra-formation follower aircraft and said lead aircraft.