Integration of DGPS and Precision Tracking Radar for Aircraft Precision Approach

Nassib Nabaa, George Clary, Jack Cross, David Howard and Rick Thayer

Abstract:	This paper describes the development, operation and flight demonstration of the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Expeditionary Common Automatic Recovery System (ECARS), a derivative of the AN/UPN-51(V) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) automatic landing system in inventory with the U.S. military. Its portability, small footprint and ease of setup makes it ideal for providing an ILS-like allweather precision guidance capability to manned aircraft flying into austere or expeditionary landing zones, or on ships/off-shore platforms. ECARS combines the precision tracking radar from the original UAV autoland system with a differential GPS system. The DGPS capability is used for long-range guidance and provides a multiple aircraft approach capability. Precision approach guidance information is derived from GPS until radar track is achieved. The flight demonstration of this system on both USMC helicopters and general aviation aircraft is described, along with comparisons between DGPS and radar data.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 57th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2001) June 11 - 13, 2001 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	280 - 290
Cite this article:	Nabaa, Nassib, Clary, George, Cross, Jack, Howard, David, Thayer, Rick, "Integration of DGPS and Precision Tracking Radar for Aircraft Precision Approach," Proceedings of the 57th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2001), Albuquerque, NM, June 2001, pp. 280-290.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In