Course 315: Local Area DGPS for Aircraft Precision Approach (LAAS)

Instructor	Dr. Trent Skidmore, Avionics Engineering Center, The Ohio University
About This Course	This course is intended to provide an in-depth look at the use of local-area differential GPS for aircraft precision approach and landing for Category I, II, and III operations. The course focuses on the key system elements necessary to meet the rigorous requirements of precision approach and landing.
Objectives	To provide the attendee with a clear understanding of the capabilities, trade-offs and system design principles employed in local area DGPS systems To offer a survey of the latest advancements, architectures, and characteristics of local area precision approach systems
Prerequisites	A familiarity with the fundamentals of GPS operation (Course 111 or Course 122 recommended), a familiarity with the use of DGPS techniques for performance improvement (Course 217 recommended), and an understanding of engineering principles and terms.
Who Should Attend?	Engineers, system analysts and others who need to become familiar with the technology, performance capabilities, architecture and system design of local area DGPS systems, including the FAA's Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS).
Course Schedule	8:30 - Background and Requirements • Perspective of GPS/GNSS in aviation • En route, terminal, non-precision and precision approach • Accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability • Category I, II and III precision approach standards 9:45 - Components of the DGPS Precision Approach System • Ground system, functions, plans • Airborne system, functions, design • Overall system design and architecture • Carrier-smoothed code vs. carrier phase measurement (real time kinematic, RTK) 11:00 - The Data Broadcast Signal • Frequency band selection • International considerations • VHF band issues (communications, navigation) 12:00 - Lunch on your own 1:30 - Integrity Monitoring • Redundancy and consistency checking • Probabilities for fault-free performance and missed detection • A Gaussian error model for system performance • Comparisons with Receiver Autonomous Integrity Modeling (RAIM) 2:45 - Availability Considerations • Operational and service availability • Deriving meaningful numbers for GPS precision approach • Modeling and performance • Availability enhancements • Airport pseudolites (APLs) 4:00 - Implementation Issues • Aircraft integration concerns • Future public use systems • Transitioning to GNSS • Developing LAAS standards 5:00 - Course ends
Materials You Will Keep	A notebook containing copies of all presentation materials used during the course.
Continuing Education Units	0.6 (6 hours)
Attendee Quotes	"Excellent presentation; very impressed. Exceeded expectations." - Fred Ventrone, Averstar "Appreciate humor - keeps audience interest alive. I like that he provides simple mathematical examples that help to get the processes across without delving into complex equations. Was able to touch on all the pertinent issues." - Sonja Smith, NAVAIR "The course will be of great help to me in evaluating LAAS for precision approach in the context of national defence policy and NATO requirements." - CAPT Andre Van der Pluym, Canadian Armed Forces "The LDGPS seminar was enlightening. The info unravelled a seemingly complicated program and illuminated its simplicity. I can directly apply this knowledge to solving problems and improving the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) Program. Good job!" - Lawrence Cooper, ARINC "Dr. Skidmore is perhaps the best speaker I have heard on technical issues. His enthusiasm for transferring knowledge is excellent." - Name withheld by request "This information will help in conducting flight testing of a LAAS-equipped integration." - Mark Dall, NAVAIRWARCENACDIV "The course was excellent." - Olaf Weber, DFS GmbH Return to top of page