Airborne Radar Approach System Flight Test Experiment.
Abstract
This report presents the results of a comprehensive flight test experiment of an Airborne Radar Approach (ARA) system. The tests were performed within a 60 nautical mile radius of NAFEC in Atlantic City, N.J. Flight tests for ARA accuracy and procedures development were performed in both skin paint (and passive reflector) and single beacon radar operating modes. The flight test profiles and procedures were developed for the following reasons: (1) to assist the FAA and the user community in developing and certifying standard ARA procedures, associated weather minimums and obstacle clearance requirements; (2) to define and quantify specific ARA system functions and characteristics for use in a Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) document. The primary conclusions of this flight test experiment were: the Airborne Radar Approach System tested performed satisfactorily from both an accuracy and an operational viewpoint in the single beacon mode for all three airspace environments; the ARA performance in the skin paint mode showed two significant problems: (1) distinguishing landside targets was quite difficult and could cause operational problems, (2) offshore targets such as oil rigs provide bright returns but are not distinguishable from boats, lighthouses and buoys; the ARA performance in the reflector mode showed that very large reflector cross sections are required to provide positive target identification.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA077900
Entities
People
- Larry D. King
- Richard J. Adams