Characteristics of Navigation Errors During Sikorsky Helicopter GPS/WAAS Non-Precision Approaches

David P. Stapleton

Abstract:	Characteristics of Sikorski S-76A helicopter test flights during steep-angle, non-precision approaches are considered, in which lateral guidance was provided by the GPS/Wide Area Augmentation System (GPS/WAAS) during final approach and late intermediate approach, and by basic GPS during missed approaches. Vertical position information was obtained by barometric instrumentation and the helicopter descended to a Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA). Results include positioning error statistics, estimation of the navigation error due to data latency, airframe frequency evaluation by the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), missed approach turn radius statistics, and presentation of feasible TERPS criteria for lateral non-precision helicopter navigation by GPS/WAAS to a point in space.
Published in:	Proceedings of IEEE/ION PLANS 2006 April 25 - 27, 2006 Loews Coronado Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	426 - 439
Cite this article:	Stapleton, David P., "Characteristics of Navigation Errors During Sikorsky Helicopter GPS/WAAS Non-Precision Approaches," Proceedings of IEEE/ION PLANS 2006, San Diego, CA, April 2006, pp. 426-439. https://doi.org/10.1109/PLANS.2006.1650632
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