Accession Number:

AD0612807

Title:

EVALUATION OF A DUAL RADAR ALTIMETER INSTALLATION FOR USE WITH AN AUTOMATIC LANDING SYSTEM.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.,

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL AVIATION FACILITIES EXPERIMENTAL CENTER ATLANTIC CITY NJ

Personal Author(s):

• Muir, James C.

Report Date:

1964-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

45.0

Abstract:

An operational evaluation of dual pulse type radar altimeters, installed in a DC-7 transport aircraft, was conducted. Two Honeywell Model 7182 Radar Altimeters were integrated into an automatic landing system which used radar altimeter height information for vertical guidance during the flare-out and landing. A total of 391 automatic landings were made on 31 instrument landing systems during the evaluation period. Space position data from 109 runs were recorded on the ground-based phototheodolite camera system. Approaches over water and irregular terrain were made to observe the operation of the pulse altimeters over various approach terrain conditions. Based on the results obtained during this evaluation, it was concluded that simultaneous operation of dual radar altimeters in a large transport aircraft was feasible without mutual interference, and the automatic landing system performance when using pulse radar altimeter information was equivalent to that obtained when using frequency-modulated continuous-wave altimeter information with a substantial reduction in weight. It was recommended that the concept of using two pulse type altimeters be incorporated in the proposed FAA test phase of Category II and III airborne landing systems. Author

Descriptors:

• *RADAR EQUIPMENT
• *ALTIMETERS
• *INSTRUMENT LANDINGS
• *ALL WEATHER AVIATION
• AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
• CIVIL AVIATION
• TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT
• FLIGHT TESTING
• AUTOMATIC
• LANDING
• FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE