NDLI: Investigation of APNT optimized DME/DME network using current state-of-the-art DMEs: Ground station network, accuracy, and capacity

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Euiho Kim
Copyright Year	2012
Description	Author affiliation: SELEX Systems Integration, Overland Park, Kansas, USA (Euiho Kim)
Abstract	An optimized DME/DME network is one of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) proposed Alternative Position, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) architectures. In comparison to other FAA-proposed APNT architectures, namely DME pseudolite network and passive Wide-Area Multilateration, airline operators find DME/DME more attractive for navigation back-up, as this solution requires no change to avionics used by nearly all commercial aircraft, thus reducing equipage costs to private companies. It is also advantageous because the absolute DME range measurements likely require a lower number of stations than the other architectures, thereby minimizing the cost to the public of installing new infrastructure. However, the insufficient range accuracy of the traditional DME (DME/N) has caused hesitation in actively pursuing this solution. U.S. and ICAO DME range accuracy standards of 0.2 nm is insufficient to support RNAV/RNP 0.3 nm operations, the performance the FAA has defined as needed for APNT. However, these standards are based on antiquated DME designs and have failed to account for advancements in both aircraft and ground station radio designs and performance. Recent flight inspections of DME range determined that the accuracy of the current state-of-the-art DME (DME/N) ground transponder is much better than 0.2 nm using current-day DME avionics. This enhanced accuracy presents an opportunity to leverage this technology and the network of DME ground stations for APNT. The DMEs in most stations in the National Airspace System (NAS) have been in service for more than 20 years and are due for replacement. It is thought that replacing DME legacy radios with modern state-of-the-art DMEs could support RNAV/RNP 0.3 operations, as well as optimize coverage with minimal addition to the DME network. This supposition leads to the feasibility study of the proposed APNT optimized DME/DME network. Using the expected range accuracy of the state-of-the-art DMEs, this paper investigates the feasibility of this proposed APNT solution by answering the following two key questions. First, what would be the optimal DME/DME ground station network that enables RNAV/RNP 0.3 operation for navigation and surveillance? Second, will the DME/DME network have sufficient capacity to support high density air traffic such as the 2020 LA basin model? The paper provides preliminary research results, by evaluating selected areas of the continental United States. Recommendations for network operation are based on the sample areas.
Starting Page	146
Ending Page	157
File Size	2936483
Page Count	12
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9781467303859
ISSN	21533598
e-ISBN	9781467303873
DOI	10.1109/PLANS.2012.6236876
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2012-04-23
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Accuracy FAA Global Navigation Satellite Systems Surveillance Irrigation Manganese Capacity APNT DME/DME Facility Location
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
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4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
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