Multilateration/Multipath Study for Air Traffic Control.

A report is made on a study and simulation program to define a feasible multilateration position measuring system for aircraft final approach and landing. Error models are given for a pulse type distance measuring equipment DME operating in a realistic multipath environment. A pulse by pulse simulation of the interrogation and reply process from successive aircraft positions to three or more ground beacons gives fine grain detail of the data noise. A simplified representation of the aircrafts response to command enables the final approach guidance loop to be closed for various geometrical arrangements of the ground beacons. System performance requirements are specified, a preferred ground beacon layout is defined and simulation results are illustrated. A flight test program is recommended to verify equipment performance and a flight evaluation plan is detailed. Author