Assessing Wide Area Multilateration and ADS-B as Alternative Surveillance Technology

Abstract

The Helicopter In-Flight Tracking System (HITS) program evaluated both Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) as alternative surveillance technologies for both the terminal and en route domains in the Gulf of Mexico against the FAA’s secondary radar. From 2001 to 2003, a network of ground stations, provided by the Sensis Corporation, was implemented to provide and demonstrate terminal services at Intracoastal City, LA. Flight tests were conducted using aircraft from both NASA Ames Research Center and the FAA Technical Center evaluating the performance of WAM and ADS-B against FAA secondary radar. In 2004, a network of ground stations were implemented from Galveston, TX to Pinellas Park, FL as well as the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico to demonstrate seamless high altitude surveillance coverage within the US Flight Information Region (FIR) for aircraft at FL 280 and above using ADS-B. WAM for high altitude aircraft in the en route area was demonstrated for areas that had coverage from three or more ground stations. The flight tests were completed in March 2004. Finally, a proof of concept activity was conducted at the FAA Technical Center demonstrating the ability to process and display ADS-B targets on the Host Computer System. This proof of concept demonstrated the capability to convert Asterix Cat 10 surveillance data from both ADS-B and WAM derived targets to existing Common Digitizer –2 data format to interface with the Host Computer System, the automation platform currently utilized at Houston Center. AIAA 5th Aviation, Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference (ATIO) 26 28 September 2005, Arlington, Virginia AIAA 2005-7349 Copyright © 2005 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. Under the copyright claimed herein, the U.S. Government has a royalty-free license to exercise all rights for Governmental purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copy-right owner. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2