Satisfying airport operational requirements using GNSS

The successful implementation of a seamless, DGPS-based airport navigation, control and management system is dependent on the successful integration of avionics and Air Traffic Management (ATM) technologies. Differential GPS (DGPS) position, velocity and time (PVT) data can provide pilots with world-wide, all-weather navigation capabilities, including forms of precision approach, taxi and departure guidance. Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) can give all participants a dynamic view of the airspace (or airport surface) and provide the ATM system with the inputs it needs to manage air and ground traffic safely and efficiently. Using common, safety-enhancing algorithms, GPS and datalink can provide improved benefits to the vast majority of aviation system users and operators. To maximize the strength and versatility of an integrated GPS-based airport system, international standards are required for navigation, geodesy, avionics, and datalink(s). The first step in developing these standards is the definition of high-level operational requirements for seamless airport operations. This paper describes a set of key, high-level operational requirements for a DGPS-based airport navigation, control and management system. The requirements are translated into a specific technology implementation utilizing GPS and datalink. The concepts presented here are based on the real time test activities conducted by DSDC at the Manchester, NH airport.