Flight Testing of the Robust Relative All-in-View KCPT Solution for Aircraft Carrier Landing Operations

Greg Johnson, Bryce Thornberg, George Hartmann, Donald Brooks, Pilar Umnuss

Abstract:	Aircraft carrier and other Naval shipboard landing operations require a robust and extremely accurate navigation system for Mode I/II/III approach and landing. Aircraft carrier controlled approach radar (SPN-46) and scanning beam (SPN-41) systems exist that are able to provide the required sensor accuracy for Naval approach and landings. However, these systems suffer from reduced performance during foul weather operations when they are critically needed. These systems are also very expensive and complex requiring high acquisition and logistics costs. A relative, GPS, KCPT solution has the inherent ability to provide a highly accurate solution for shipboard landing operations that is unaffected by weather at a fraction of the cost. Raytheon Aircraft Montek Company has developed a real time, relative, all-in-view, KCPT solution that is able to resolve and hold carrier cycle ambiguities robustly. This solution was tested with the GPS based Air Traffic Control, Approach and Landing System (ATCALS) which was primarily developed under a Navy contract. This GPS based ATCALS provides positive control capability for fixed wing, rotary wing, and vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft operations from air, land, or sea-based control platforms (reference stations). System testing simulated fixed wing approaches to an aircraft carrier by locating the shipboard reference station in a van and the airborne equipment in a twin engine commercial aircraft. The van was driven down a runway, in both straight and sinusoidal patterns, at speeds between 5 and 30 knots. The test aircraft flew 25 approaches to the van in typical aircraft carrier approach patterns. The real time, relative, KCPT solution was displayed to the van and test aircraft pilots as well as recorded for post processing. A third, stationary GPS reference station was used to determine the truth for the dynamic, relative GPS based approach solution. Test results show that the relative KCPT position solution exceeds the required accuracy for US Navy autocoupled Mode I (FAA Category III) approach and landings.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1997 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 14 - 16, 1997 Loews Santa Monica Hotel Santa Monica, CA
Pages:	575 - 584
Cite this article:	Johnson, Greg, Thornberg, Bryce, Hartmann, George, Brooks, Donald, Umnuss, Pilar, "Flight Testing of the Robust Relative All-in-View KCPT Solution for Aircraft Carrier Landing Operations," Proceedings of the 1997 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Santa Monica, CA, January 1997, pp. 575-584.
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