Final Report, Methodology Investigation, Global Positioning System (GPS) Vehicle Tracking System for Flight Testing of Fixed- and Rotary-Wing Aircraft.

The U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center ATTC conducted the methodology investigation of the global positioning system GPS vehicle tracking system at White Sands Missile Range from June 1995-April 1996. The objectives were to quantify the accuracy of the GPS tracking system throughout the dynamics of normal helicopter flight and ensure that the rotor effect on the GPS signal reception is considered. It was concluded that the system as tested is capable of tracking helicopters through their flight envelope to an accuracy of less than 2 feet spherical error probable in real time, and the rotor system appeared to have little effect on the GPS signals.