Further Validation of GAST D Ionospheric Anomaly Mitigations

M. Harris, T. Murphy, S. Saito

Abstract: Development of Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) standards continues with the introduction of a new type of service intended to support the most demanding approach and landing operations in CAT III conditions. Proposed standards for this new service type have been drafted and are currently being validated. This new service type, called GBAS Approach Service Type D (GAST D), includes new requirements for monitoring that are intended to protect the user against large errors that could be induced by ionospheric anomalies. The effects of such ionospheric anomalies on GBAS have been an active area of research for more than 8 years. The requirements included in the definition of GAST D are intended to mitigate the effects of ionospheric anomalies in a manner consistent with the use of the GBAS service type for operations down to the lowest approach minimums (i.e., Category IIIb weather conditions). Significant validation work has been reported in previous papers. This paper describes additional validation work that has been done to explore the effectiveness of the ionospheric anomaly mitigations in the presence of ionospheric plasma bubbles that regularly occur over the magnetic equator. This work also deals with the implications of multiple satellites being affected simultaneously by an ionospheric anomaly. Finally, the paper discusses additional testing that has been done to characterize the dynamic characteristics of ionospheric anomaly induced errors prior to detection.
Published in: Proceedings of the 2011 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation
January 24 - 26, 2011
Catamaran Resort Hotel
San Diego, CA
Pages: 942 - 949
Cite this article: Harris, M., Murphy, T., Saito, S., "Further Validation of GAST D Ionospheric Anomaly Mitigations," Proceedings of the 2011 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 2011, pp. 942-949.
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