The study of real-timed GPS navigation accuracy during approach and landing of an ultralight vehicle

Owing to the maturity of satellite technology and Global Positioning System (GPS), the new generation of Air Traffic Management (ATM) technique is designated to utilize the navigation information provided by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). For precision landing and take-off of an aircraft, the Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) is needed to enhance the navigation accuracy, integrity, reliability and availability. Present study simulates the concept of LAAS and has established a ground-based Real-Time DGPS (RT-DGPS) reference station. This base station provides 0.5-meter RMS error and 0.2-meter correction for static horizontal navigation and 1.1-meter RMS error and 2-meter correction for dynamic horizontal navigation. The verification of pseudo-attitude in flight is also accomplished in an ultralight vehicle. The flight test combined with the RT-DGPS technique has qualitatively demonstrated that the GPS-determined attitude is feasible and quantitatively proved the pseudo-roll and pseudo-heading angles are especially reliable.