SIMULATION OF EGNOS SATELLITE NAVIGATION SIGNAL USAGE FOR AIRCRAFT LPV PRECISION INSTRUMENT APPROACH

Michal Hvezda

doi:10.3846/aviation.2021.14554

Abstract

Satellite navigation has become a very important topic in the air transport industry along with its application in instrument approach procedures. Recently, extracted statistical characteristics of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) satellite signal have been made available from real measurements in the Czech Republic. The numerical modeling approach is taken for a feasibility study of automatic aircraft control during the Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) precision approach based on such navigation data. The model incorporates Kalman filtering of the stochastic navigation signal, feed-back control of L-410 aircraft dynamics and the calculation of approach progress along the predefined procedure. Evaluation of the performance of the system prototype is performed using the scenarios developed with a strong interest in altitude control. The specific scenario is focused on a curved approach which offers a huge advantage of the approaches based on the Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) compared to ones with the Instrument Landing System (ILS). Outputs of simulation executions are statistically analyzed and assessed against predefined navigation performance goals equivalent to ILS categories with a positive outcome.

Highlights

Many European airports use satellites as navigation aids for the approach of aircraft (Vencius, 2013)
The focus of approach procedure designers is going in the direction of satellite augmentation systems, ground or satellite based, to use advantages of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) in Europe
Current Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) procedures reach equivalence with Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT I approaches once decision heights are at the 60 m (200 ft) level, statistical analysis of real measurements of the EGNOS navigation signal in this area shows huge potential for even wider use of the signal, so it is being studied across the European Union (Vassilev & Vassileva, 2012; Grunwald et al, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Many European airports use satellites as navigation aids for the approach of aircraft (Vencius, 2013). The focus of approach procedure designers is going in the direction of satellite augmentation systems, ground or satellite based, to use advantages of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) in Europe. This is true in the Czech Republic where Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) procedures are in operation or planned on the runways of most airports with international transport. The data from the experiments are available from the measurements made using the onboard sensors during the landing of the aircraft (Krasuski & Wierzbicki, 2020) These characteristics of the navigational signal can be further used in the simulations involving aircraft mechanics and onboard systems. Such simulations may help to explore the area of usability of the EGNOS system as a provider of the inputs for the aircraft navigation and control systems used during the execution of approach procedures

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