Microwave Landing System

The National Microwave Landing Systems (MLS) program is a joint DOT/DOD/NASA effort to implement a common civil/military precision landing system to replace the current Instrument Landing System (ILS). The MLS will be capable of providing precision landing guidance down to Category III minimum while allowing for complex approach paths in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The system is based on the Time Reference Scanning Beam (TRSB) technique which was selected by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in April 1978 as the new international landing system standard. MLS is less susceptible to interference from the surrounding area and provides a greater signal coverage area than ILS.     

High accuracy navigation and landing system using GPS/IMU systemintegration

In this paper, the accuracy, integrity and continuity of function requirements for automatic landing systems using satellite navigation systems are discussed. Such a landing system is the integrated navigation and landing system (INLS) developed by Deutsche Aerospace (DASA/Ulm, Germany). The system concepts of the INLS are presented. It is shown how an INLS, based on system integration of a satellite navigation system (e.g., GPS) in realtime differential mode with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in the accuracy class of an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS), can meet the requirements: the results given are mainly devoted to the accuracy issues. Using Kalman filter techniques, an in-flight calibration of the IMU is performed. The advantage of system integration, especially in dynamic flight conditions and during phases of flight with satellite masking, is explained. The accuracy, integrity and continuity of function of the INLS were proven by means of flight tests in a commuter aircraft using a laser tracker as a reference. These flight tests have shown that the short-term accuracy (<60 seconds) of the AHRS used within the INLS has been improved from low cost sensor quality to the accuracy of a high quality laser inertial navigation system (LNIS). With the presented INLS, a landing at any airfield, not equipped with conventional Instrument Landing System (ILS) or Microwave Landing System (MLS), is possible by using a very cost effective system. The INLS is a high accuracy navigation and landing system designed to be used instead of conventional landing systems at small airfields and to fill operational gaps of conventional navigation and landing systems in cruise and approach on large airports     

MLS: keeping pace with the future

It is argued that the instrument landing system (ILS) is now at its operational limit in terms of radio frequency availability, approach flexibility, and technology. The operational requirements for a microwave landing system (MLS), which will overcome key limitations of the ILS and provide growth to meet future requirements of precision landing systems, are discussed, John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York City are discussed as examples to demonstrate the capabilities of MLS     

Improvement of Automatic Landing Through the Use of a Space Diversity ILS Receiving System

A space diversity method of receiving and processing ILS localizer information has been developed and flight tested. Multiple lateral ly separated antennas are used which sense the ILS signal on and around the approach path. Combining these signals suppresses ILS beam distortion produced by multipath signal interference and provides much improved guidance information to the landing aircraft control system.     

The case for ILS

In response to the interest and activity in microwave landing systems (MLSs), the capability of instrument landing systems (ILSs) is examined and a case for their continued implementation is made. The changes that have been made with respect to electronic hardware, monitoring, and antenna systems in response to more stringent demands are reviewed. It is argued that there is no technical impediment to the installation of additional and upgraded ILS installations over the 1990s and that these installations would be cost effective and pay back the investments before being displaced by MLS     

ILS-a safe bet for your future landings

An argument is presented in favor of the ILS (instrument landing system), the principal components of which are the localizer, which provides lateral guidance to the pilot, and the glide slope, which gives the vertical guidance. A pilot flying these signals precisely will end up over the hard surface runway with the ILS receiving antenna, wherever it is mounted on the aircraft, being about 20 ft above the touchdown point. The safety record and evolution of the ILS are examined, and a pilot's view of ILS (that of the author, an engineer who has worked with ILS since 1957 and a pilot who has used ILS safely for over 30 years) is given. System availability is discussed, and comments concerning future use are offered     

Application of Endfire Arrays at Contemporary Glide-Slope Problem Sites

The application of the endfire-type, compatible instrument landing system (ILS) glide slope is discussed in the context of providing increased capability to install facilities without requirements for extensive terrain modification. Costs of preparing a site for glide-slope operation can be reduced many times by eliminating the requirement for the usual image-forming ground plane. An example is given where the first endfire glide slope has been installed at an airdrome on a mesa giving a high quality path in space in spite of the limited real estate. Recent flight data from this glide slope are presented.     

民用飞机着陆系统安全性评估的故障树分析

飞机着陆系统是保障飞机安全进近着陆的关键系统,如何评估着陆系统满足安全性设计要求是系统设计的重要环节之一。阐述民用飞机安全性评估的基本流程,以微波着陆系统为例,针对给定的微波着陆系统框图,通过故障树分析方法,对完全丧失两侧微波着陆信息的失效状态进行定量评估,重点详述建树过程和建树方法。结果表明:故障树分析对系统架构的设计具有重要的指导作用,二者紧密结合、相互反馈;特别是当失效状态所对应的概率要求无法满足时,借助故障树分析产生的割集报告,能找出系统架构存在的薄弱之处和关键部位,从而采取有效的应对措施,完成对系统架构的优化设计。     

最小生理噪声进场航迹飞行管理方法

 微波着陆系统MLS的最优航迹计算以减小居民最敏感的生理噪声为基本优化性能准则,用感觉噪声级Sone为单位。计算了考虑了噪声传播时温度、风梯度、沿进场航迹附近区域生活居民区分布位置及密度等影响。通过对杜塞尔道夫-罗奥申航空港计算结果证实,使航空港附近居民的平均有效感觉生理噪声级(Sone)较原有Jeppesen标准方式降低了20％以上。     

A Hazard Analysis-based Approach to Improve the Landing Safety of a BWB Remotely Piloted Vehicle

The BUAA-BWB remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) designed by our research team encountered an unexpected landing safety problem in flight tests. It has obviously affected further research project for blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft configuration characteristics. Searching for a safety improvement is an urgent requirement in the development work of the RPV. In view of the vehicle characteristics, a new systemic method called system-theoretic process analysis (STPA) has been tentatively applied to the hazardous factor analysis of the RPV flight test. An uncontrolled system behavior "path sagging phenomenon" is identified by implementing a three degrees of freedom simulation based on wind tunnel test data and establishing landing safety system dynamics archetype. To obtain higher safety design effectiveness and considering safety design precedence, a longitudinal "belly-flap" control surface is innovatively introduced and designed to eliminate hazards in landing. Finally, flight tests show that the unsafe factor has been correctly identified and the landing safety has been efficiently improved.     

A localizer design to improve missed approach guidance

A novel VHF localizer system has been designed, built and successfully tested to provide increased reliability and safety of commercial and general aviation air transportation. Additional benefits are more precise tracks for aircraft executing a missed approach, reduced volume of the airspace needed for missed approaches, and reduced sizes of areas affected by noise. The design uses contemporary instrument landing system (ILS) hardware to provide dual independent front and back course directional localizer operation with two carriers in the receiver passband offset 4 kHz from the nominal carrier frequency. An example is given of an application and solution to an ILS problem at Reno, NV. Relevant data are presented     

F/A-18E/F全自动着舰飞行特性分析

以F/A-18E/F舰载机为对象,针对航迹精确控制和安全性要求,分析了舰载机全自动着舰飞行特性。首先,基于自动着舰控制系统,建立了全自动着舰飞行控制系统的动力学模型;然后,对下滑轨迹纠偏与控制能力、控制器指令响应特性、变换下滑道机动特性进行了仿真分析。仿真结果表明,在全自动着舰安全边界范围内,舰载机能在较短时间内将航迹控制在理想下滑线附近;控制器具有良好的高度变化率、俯仰角、俯仰角速度等状态指令响应特性及控制面指令响应特性;F/A-18E/F变换下滑道机动则需要配合油门完成,说明仅通过平尾控制实现该机动并非安全着舰的必要条件。     

Synthetic vision for enhancing poor visibility flight operations

Visibility is important for the pilot controlling an aircraft in flight conditions close to the ground, particularly when landing. Therefore, poor visibility yields a great restriction for aircraft operations. Restrictions exist for landing sites which are equipped with facilities providing a landing approach aid like ILS since a minimum is required for visibility. For landing sites providing no approach aids, restrictions are much more severe. This holds even if aircraft are equipped with modern instrumentation and navigation devices. The natural view of the pilot is dependent on various meteorological conditions like darkness, dust, fog, rain etc. The degradation in view caused by these conditions can be compensated for partially or even completely by technical means providing artificial vision cues. Such technical means may be based on radar or optical sensor information. Concepts which employ these techniques are known as “Synthetic Visual Systems” or “Enhanced Visual Systems,” . The present paper is concerned with computer generated vision as a further technique providing visual cues for the pilot. Computer generated vision may be used in combination with the aforementioned sensor based techniques. Thus, it is possible to compensate for limitations which sensor based visual systems have in providing sufficient visibility range or in generating a normal looking image. In addition, computer generated imagery has the potential providing additional information to the pilot for controlling the flight path or for warning purposes. This potential can yield improved and/or more information as compared with the natural view when looking out of the cockpit window     

基于成本效益分析的ILS/MLS过渡决策

本文在对民航几个具有代表性的机场和航空公司进行调研基础上，提出了ＩＬＳ／ＭＬＳ成本计算和未来机队预测方法，从我国目前应用ＩＬＳ现状出发，列举了由ＭＬＳ可能获得的效益。根据成本计算结果的比较和分析，提出了我国ＩＬＳ／ＭＬＳ过渡方案参考的结论和建议，供领导机关作决策选择。     

A Geometrical Model for Glide Path Measurement and Site Evaluation

A geometrical model has been developed to permit accurate and detailed characterization of the instrument landing system (ILS) null reference glide path. The model utilizes a simplified CW measuring system operating at a frequency of 9.375 GHz, which corresponds to a wavelength scaling factor of approximately 30:1. An overall accuracy of 0.01° has been demonstrated for the model facility with an "ideal" ground surface, and satisfactory agreement has been obtained between model and flight test measurements for an existing nonflat glide path site. Geometrical modelling has potential advantages over other approaches in accuracy, economy, measuring convenience, and ability to assess proposed terrain modifications.     

飞机着陆系统的现状与发展

论述了仪表着陆系统(ILS)、微波着陆系统(MLS)的作用及应用前景和主要优缺点。提出在未来MLS系统逐步取代ILS系统的过程中,ILS／MLS组合着陆系统导航设备的应用与发展。     

民机航向道信标接收功能定量评估方法研究

针对民用飞机仪表着陆系统(ILS)航向道信标(LOC)接收功能试飞中机载LOC接收功能定量评估存在困难的问题,通过对LOC基本工作原理和机场LOC地面台信号的分析,并结合机场LOC地面台的飞行校验方法和校验结果,将试飞使用跑道LOC地面台本身存在的误差以及飞行校验的设备误差纳入考量,结合民用飞机机载LOC系统试飞科目的...     

结冰飞机着陆阶段飞行安全包线确定及操纵应对策略

结冰会导致飞行安全包线收缩、严重威胁飞行安全,研究结冰后安全包线变化对于操纵应对策略设计及提高飞行安全具有重要意义。以美国国家航空航天局（NASA）的项目飞机GTM（Generic Transport Model）为研究对象,通过对飞机的气动参数进行多项式拟合,建立了结冰飞机纵向通道的动力学模型。为了得到能随结冰程度变化的安全包线,将可达性分析理论引入到对结冰飞机着陆过程的安全性分析。提出将正向可达集与反向可达集的交集作为飞行安全包线,其中可达集的确定是基于水平集方法求解哈密尔顿-雅克比方程的最优解。最后针对不同程度的结冰条件进行了操纵时域验证,并提出了相应的操纵控制策略。研究结果表明,轻度结冰对安全包线影响较小,整个着陆过程的飞行状态始终能在最优控制指导下保持在安全包线以内;但对于重度结冰,飞行安全包线收缩严重,常规操纵已经很难使飞机达到着陆要求,需要进行飞行状态改出处理。研究结果为指导飞行操纵及实时包线保护打下基础。     

MLS: a total system approach

A typical approach and landing operation is described. The microwave landing system (MLS) is then examined, its design characteristics and how it works are shown, and how the MLS design fulfils the user's operational requirements by protecting the guidance signal from reflected signal interference is highlighted. MLS angle system accuracy is discussed in great detail, and its reliability, integrity, and coverage volume are briefly considered. MLS availability at any runway to all aircraft types and their landing scenarios, which is accomplished using narrow scanning beam antennas, is examined     

MLS system error model identification and synthesis

Signal-in-space modeling of approach and landing guidance systems such as the microwave landing system (MLS), which is necessary for aircraft certification, is addressed. A technique which can, in principle, identify the error sources in navigation systems and can also perform the inverse operation of synthesizing an error generator whose output is statistically equivalent to the original error data is described. The technique can also be used to validate equipment error budget assumptions. The identification and synthesis technique applies not only to MLS but to all navigation systems