Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64F—GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B64F1/00—Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations
  • B64F1/22—Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations for handling aircraft

Definitions

• Each of these basic guidance paths includes a row of white lights extending therealong and a closely adjacent row of colored lights extending therealong with the color lights of each base guidance path comprising a color distinctively different from the color lights used in each of the other base guidance paths.
• the guidance system further incorporates an intermediate guidance path between each pair of adjacent base guidance paths and each intermediate guidance path comprises a single row of color lights of the same color as one of the colored row of lights in an adjacent base guidance path.
• the four different colored rows of lights of the base guidance paths are to be standardized insofar as color match to a given compass direction and the guidance system further includes concentric circle paths of lights extending about the air terminal at different radial distances therefrom ranging up to 15 miles distance from the air terminal and with each of the circle paths of lights being of a distinctive color different from the color of lights in each of the other circular paths of lights.
• the pilot of an aircraft without any operative navigation or communication systems during at least minimum visibility conditions may readily effect a proper landing approach to an air terminal from a distance in excess of 15 miles from the terminal.
• the main object of this invention is to provide an air terminal guidance system of the visual type and including features which may be readily standardized and utilized by pilots of substantially all aircraft, under at least minimal visual conditions, to effect, a proper approach to an air terminal.
• a final object of this invention is to provide an air terminal guidance system in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that would be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of the air terminal guidance system of the instant invention.
• Figure 2 is a grouping of cross hatch ⁇ ings indicating the various colors of lights which may be used in the guidance system.
• the numeral 10 generally designates an air terminal including individual runways 12 and 14.
• the air terminal guidance system of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 16 and includes various paths of lights disposed about the air terminal 10.
• the system 16 includes four base paths 18, 20, 22 and 24 radiating outwardly from the air terminal 10 in north, east, south and west directions.
• the base paths each include the first row 26 of white lights 28 spaced therealong.
• the paths 18, 20, 22 and 24 include second rows 30 of colored lights 32, 34, 36 and 38 spaced therealong.
• Each row of white lights 28 is disposed on the left of the corresponding row of colored lights along each base path 18, 20, 22 and 24 when approaching the air terminal 10.
• the colored lights 32 in the row 30 are blue as indicated at 40 in Figure 2, the colored lights 34 are green as indicated at 42 in Figure 2, the colored lights 36 are chartreuse as indicated at 44 in Figure 2 and the colored lights 38 are an orange red as indicated at 46 in Figure 2.
• the guidance system 16 includes intermediate paths 48, 50, 52 and 54 which radiate outwardly from the air terminal 10 and are equally angularly spaced between adjacent base paths.
• the intermediate paths 48, 50, 52 and 54 comprise rows of colored lights 56, 58, 60 and 62 and the lights 56 are green as indicated at 42, the lights 58 are chartreuse as indicated at 44.,.. the lights 60 are orange red as indicated 46 and the lights 62 are blue as indicated at 40.
• the guidance system 16 includes a plurality of concentric circular paths 64, 66 and 68 extending about the air terminal or airport 10 and the path 64 is defined by spaced lights 70 which are orange in color as indicated at 72 in Figure 2.
• the path 66 is defined by spaced lights 74 which are red in color as indicated at 76 in Figure 2 and the path 68 comprises spaced lights 78 which may be of any other distinctive color.
• OMPI In operation, when the pilot of an aircraft approaches the general area of the airport or air terminal 10, a distance of 15 miles or greater, the pilot may readily recognize the air terminal area and his position on the periphery thereof according to the color lights which may be viewed. If the pilot approaches the air terminal area from one side and is to land while approaching from the opposite side, the pilot may enter the airport area to the circular path 68 and then follow the lights 78 of the circular path 68, in a predetermined direction, about the air terminal area to the opposite side thereof and then approach along one of the lighted radial paths in a predetermined manner.
• a pilot is approaching the air terminal on a compass heading between adjacent radial paths in low visibility conditions and one of the adjacent radial paths becomes viewable to him, he may then move to the right or left until the other adjacent radial path becomes viewable and thereafter continue inward toward the terminal 10.
• the pilot will know that he is approaching the air terminal 10 on the right of a base radial path and if the adjacent lights on the right side of the aircraft are white and a different color in relation to the color on the left side of the aircraft, the pilot will know that he is approaching the air terminal 10 on the left of a base radial path.
• the concentric circular paths 64, 66 and 68 are readily viewable to the pilot of an aircraft to indicate the remaining distance to the air terminal 10.
• the present system may indicate a number of things to a pilot without the necessity of radio communication. This may be done through the use of the lights 32, 34, 36 and 38 as well as the lights 56, 48, 60 and 62, either through a sequencing process (landing runways, take-off runways, etc.), a flashing process (emergency in progress, dangerous obstacle ahead, etc.), brightening or dimming the lights or turning off the lights (runway closed, etc.).
• a sequencing process laanding runways, take-off runways, etc.
• a flashing process emergency in progress, dangerous obstacle ahead, etc.
• brightening or dimming the lights or turning off the lights runway closed, etc.
• the rows of double lights 32, 34, 36 and 38 need not always exactly correspond with the cardinal headings but may follow a runway, curve around an obstacle, or veer sharply to avoid nearby airports, etc. However, whether the double rows of lights 32, 34, 36 and 38 follow straight cardinal headings depends upon the airport location and existing local conditions. However, the principle of using the lights to guide incoming and/or outgoing aircraft remains the same.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
• Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22175617

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1983
  • 1983-11-29 WO PCT/US1983/001898 patent/WO1985002477A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1983-11-29 FI FI852933A patent/FI852933A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1983-11-29 JP JP84500354A patent/JPS61500693A/ja active Pending
  • 1983-11-29 EP EP19840900232 patent/EP0163637A4/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 1985
  • 1985-07-29 NO NO852998A patent/NO852998L/no unknown
  • 1985-07-29 DK DK343485A patent/DK343485A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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