Trials of the Doppler Microwave Landing System at Manchester International Airport October/November 1977.

Abstract

This report describes tests performed at Manchester to determine the multipath environment at the airport, and to assess the accuracy and coverage of the Doppler Microwave Landing System in this environment. High levels of azimuth system multipath were found close to runway threshold but azimuth systems with as small an aperture as 20 wavelengths (1.2 m) gave the equivalent of ILS Category III accuracy. No isolated sources of elevation multipath were found and a 39 wavelength aperture system (2.3m) gave the equivalent of ILS Category III accuracy for 3 approaches. The coverage requirement of 20 n mile range and + or - 40 deg. azimuth was achieved at heights sufficient to give clear line of sight, but at elevation angles below about 1.5 deg., shadowing caused signal loss and large errors. Autolands were demonstrated using the 54 wavelength aperture systems. No specifically technique related effects were seen and the results are regarded as representative of typical C-band MLS performance. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA070291

Entities

People

  • Denise D. Walker

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Aircrafts
  • Airports
  • Airspeed
  • Altimeters
  • Azimuth
  • Diffraction
  • Guidance
  • International Airports
  • Line Of Sight
  • Measurement
  • Microwave Landing Systems
  • Modulation
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Radar Altimeters
  • Reflectors
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management
  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering
  • Geodesy