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

—Aircraft Ranging Experiment Using B747—

Abstract

In the aeronautical satellite system for the air traffic control in the oceanic area, it is important to know the position of aircraft at the ground earth station. We have developed ranging and positioning system in which aircraft position is determined by measuring ranges between the aircraft and two geostationary satellites. This paper describes the ranging system using a geostationary satellite, Engineering Test Satellite V, and experiment results. This system is designed to allow ranging of each aircraft every 0.6 s within the ranging accuracy of 100 m. Experiments to estimate this system were performed using Boeing 747 on the North Pacific route with low satellite elevation angles. The random error of the range was less than 50 m at C/N₀ of more than 41 dBHz in the experiment. The carrier acquisition time was found to be satisfied with its requirement if C/N₀ was more than 43 dBHz.