Monitoring terrain database integrity through aircraft sensor consistency checking: architecture and flight test results

Abstract

This paper discusses the architecture and flight test results of a digital elevation model (DEM) integrity monitor for a synthetic vision system (SVS). An SVS provides pilots with either a heads down display (HDD) or a heads up display (HUD) containing aircraft state, guidance and navigation information, and a virtual depiction of the terrain as viewed "from the cockpit". Introduction of SVS technology in the aircraft flight deck has the potential to improve flight safety by increasing the situational awareness (SA) in low to near zero-visibility conditions to a level of awareness similar to daytime clear weather flying. This SA improvement does not only enable low-visibility operations, but may also reduce the likelihood of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)