The Precision Landing System Receiver (PLSR) Multi-Mode Receiver Operational Flight Testing and DGPS Development/Technical Approach

Andrew Hunton, Dominick Gasparri, John Nagel, Tom Panek, Ron Kanagawa

Abstract:	This paper will describe the first operational Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR) for the DoD, known as the AN/ARN-155 Precision Landing System Receiver (PLSR), currently being installed on the US Air Force C-17 fleet. The role MMR avionics play in civilian and military aircraft will be addressed, along with the technical issues involved with integrating LADGPS precision approach equipment into modern CNS/ATM avionics architectures. In 1995, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted a “regionalized” transition plan in which each world region can select its own new precision landing aid as a function of cost and interoperability issues. This is resulting in a “splintering effect”, in which aircraft will need ILS, MLS and DGPS capability to land, especially on international routes. The growing reliance on the civilian ATM infrastructure by the military also requires that military aircraft have this same capability. DoD programs such as Joint Precision Approach Landing System (JPALS) and Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) are addressing this need as well. In order to fill the gap during the transition period, industry and military organizations are adopting the use of a Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR), which is a single receiver avionics unit embedding all three precision approach modes: ILS, MLS, and DGPS. The Air Force Electronic Systems Center Global Air Traffic Operations (GATO) Systems Program Office is currently managing an acquisition program with GEC-Marconi Hazeltine to develop, test and deliver landing system avionics. This program, the PLSR EMD II Program, is entering final development. Concurrent with this program, the US Air Force has awarded a contract to Boeing and GMH to install PLSRS on the C-17 fleet. This paper will describe the PLSR avionics system, the development/operational flight testing results, and DGPS avionics technical issues. The technology required for an MMR requires a carefully designed architecture, including programmable digital signal processing, which maximizes functional growth and robustness during the early introductory periods of DGPS precision approach and later maturing phases. These multi-mode features will be addressed concentrating on the DGPS principal of operation, along with future GPS augmentation and receiver enhancements, including GRAMISAASM receivers.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 54th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1998) June 1 - 3, 1998 The Adams Mark Hotel Denver, CO
Pages:	175 - 186
Cite this article:	Hunton, Andrew, Gasparri, Dominick, Nagel, John, Panek, Tom, Kanagawa, Ron, "The Precision Landing System Receiver (PLSR) Multi-Mode Receiver Operational Flight Testing and DGPS Development/Technical Approach," Proceedings of the 54th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1998), Denver, CO, June 1998, pp. 175-186.
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