Optimal Parameter Inflation to Enhance the Availability of Single-Frequency GBAS for Intelligent Air Transportation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new geometry-screening algorithm for single-frequency GBAS that significantly improves system availability in low-latitude regions with severe ionospheric disturbances, enhancing safety and reliability.

Contribution

The study proposes a novel geometry-screening algorithm that enhances GBAS availability in low-latitude regions, addressing limitations of existing methods under severe ionospheric conditions.

Findings

5-8 percentage point increase in GBAS availability at Galeão airport

Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm

Improved safety margins for aircraft landing in challenging ionospheric environments

Abstract

Ground-based Augmentation System (GBAS) augments Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to support the precision approach and landing of aircraft. To guarantee integrity, existing single-frequency GBAS utilizes position-domain geometry screening to eliminate potentially unsafe satellite geometries by inflating one or more broadcast GBAS parameters. However, GBAS availability can be drastically impacted in low-latitude regions where severe ionospheric conditions have been observed. Thus, we developed a novel geometry-screening algorithm in this study to improve GBAS availability in low-latitude regions. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed method can provide 5-8 percentage point availability enhancement of GBAS at Gale\~ao airport near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, compared to existing methods.