LDACS1 for APNT — Planning and realization of a flight measurement campaign

Recently, it has been proposed to extend the functionality of the future L-band Digital Aeronautical Communication System type 1 (LDACS1) to allow for navigational services. Specifically, the LDACS1 system can be modified to provide an Alternative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) service for aeronautics during possible GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) outages. In this paper, we outline the main steps behind the measurement campaign aimed at validating and testing in realistic scenarios the LDACS1 proposal for navigation. We describe the measurement setup, synchronization of stations, and calibration of the measurement equipment.