Publications

This report investigates the requirements imposed on a surveillance system for supporting independent approaches to closely spaced parallel runways. Based on a proposed procedure for monitoring aircraft approach paths and controlling deviations from proper approach paths, the required spacing between runway centerlines is derived as a function of surveillance system characteristics and other parameters. Potential trade-offs between the surveillance system characteristics are then investigated to determine whether the DABS sensor might be utilized for position measurement and/or communication in such a surveillance system. The results indicate that the required runway spacing is more sensitive to delays and data update intervals than to position measurement accuracies, and that, if DABS is to perform the communication function in the system, it should probably be used for position measurement as well.