Navigation Experiment Using Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V)

—B747 Flight Experiment on Aeronautical Data Communications—

Abstract

This paper describes the result of data communications experiment using a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft and the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V) conducted to develop and evaluate satellite data communications techniques for oceanic air traffic control. Circular patch antennas (peak gain: 7dBi) on board the B747 were used for transmission to and reception from the ETS-V. The B747 flew between Narita and Anchorage where the satellite elevation angle varied from 10° to 45°.

Data transmission characteristics for three modulation schemes, BPSK, SS, and PM, were measured and compared with theoretical ones. The result showed the followings. The degradation of data transmission characteristics were within the link margin for all modulation schemes. For BPSK (without FEC), transmission errors considerably increased in the eastbound flight due to signal level variation caused by the reflection on a wing. But, the increase of transmission errors was relatively small in the westbound flight for all modulation schemes.