Flight Test Results of the FAA Local Area Augmentation System Test Prototype

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed a Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) Test Prototype (LTP) derived from a previously sponsored FAA university grant. Test results are presented from this FAA owned and operated Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) landing system. These tests represent an independent evaluation of FAA sponsored work. A total of 156 approaches have been flown using the system described in this report. Approaches were completed in two FAA-owned Convair 580 aircraft, an FAA-owned Boeing 727, and a National Research Council Canada (NRC)-owned Falcon 20. These procedures were conducted at four operational airports. The LTP operational flight test results show that this code-based DGPS landing system performs with a 95% vertical accuracy which is consistent with previous flight test results conducted at the WJHTC. The current system accuracy levels as well as the current measurement screening integrity algorithm will not be sufficient to meet the requirements for all categories of precision approach. Therefore, ongoing FAA/university research projects have addressed the system deficiencies and corrective modifications will soon be incorporated into the LTP for evaluation in further operational tests.