Patent ID: 7698025

Claim:
An aircraft control unit installed in an aisle stand in a cockpit of an aircraft configured to control multiple systems of the aircraft, the aircraft control unit comprising: a display screen for displaying information to an operator of the aircraft; a user interface for use by the operator and used in conjunction with the display screen; a communication module configured to interact with the user interface and to be coupled to a communication system of the aircraft, wherein the communication module is configured to store an active radio frequency in memory for later use in response to an operator selection of a command associated with a “store active” prompt on the display screen, and wherein the communication module comprises at least one of a very high frequency (VHF) radio module, a high frequency (HF) radio module, a satellite communication (SATCOM) radio module, and a cabin interphone module; a surveillance module configured to interact with the user interface and to be coupled to a surveillance system of the aircraft, wherein the surveillance module comprises at least one of a ground proximity warning system (GPWS) module, a weather radar module, an air traffic control (ATC) transponder module, and a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) module; and wherein the communication module and the surveillance module are configured to display information on the display screen and to receive operator input from the user interface.