Innovative radar multistatic techniques for air traffic control

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) been evaluating a prototype integrated Advanced Surface Movement Guidance System(A-SMGCS). Key A-SMGCS surveillance technologies including Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-3) radar, inductive loops, 1090 MHz ADS-B, and Mode S multilateration are fused to provide multi-sensor surveillance coverage. Performance evaluations identifying advantages and disadvantages of these technologies have been conducted by FAA and NASA. Rannoch has been involved in several of these projects and implemented several multilateration technology innovations with the goal of enhancing system performance, improving siting flexibility, reducing system cost, and decrease spectrum utilization. The innovations include two-receiver position aiding and aircraft identification, highly accurate GPS synchronization, 1030 MHz synchronization, and passive Mode A/C multilateration. The Rannoch version of multilateration, known as AirScene, is being installed in several countries worldwide, with these various system improvements. Results and performance improvements are described in the paper.