Multilateration Surveillance

Systems of ERA
Their Applications, Features and Operational Results

Viktor Sotona, Business Development Manager - ATC Systems

ERA a.s., Pardubice, Czech Republic
MSS - General Concept

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 How to classify systems of ERA?

ATC Surveillance Systems

Primary Secondary ADS

(Non-cooperative with targets) (Mode A/C/S Cooperative) (Cooperative, GNSS dependent)

 Primary Radars  Secondary Surveillance  VTS - Vehicle Tracking

Radars (SSR) System
 Surface Movement
Radars (SMR)  DSS - Mode S ES
 Multilateration
Depended
Surveillance Systems
Surveillance System
 ASCS type
 P3D type

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Cooperative vs. Non-C. Surveillance Sensors

Definitions

Non Co-operative Sensor

A sensor which doesn’t require onboard equipment providing

automatically and continuously information including its Identity
– Primary Radars.

Co-operative Sensor
A sensor which requires onboard equipment providing automatically
and continuously information including its Identity (Mode A/C/S
transponder).

All ATC systems of ERA are cooperative.

 require either Mode A/C/S transponders or SQB units onboard of targets

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How to understand their applications?
ACC APP TWR, APRON
(en-route surveillance) (TMA surveillance) (Airport Surface Surveillance)

P3D system
• SSR substitute
• up to 200 NM

ASCS system
• SMR complement
• up to 5 NM
• includes VTS
ACC Area Control Center
APP Approach Control VTS system
TMA Terminal Maneuvering Area • SMR complement
TWR Tower Control
• surface only
SMR Surface Movement Radar (non-cooperative sensor)
SSR Secondary Surveillance Radar (cooperative sensor)
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What are Features and Benefits of MSS?

 Unambiguous aircraft and vehicles identification

 High accuracy and update rate

 Independent height measurement (truly 3D system)

 Seamless surface and airborne surveillance

 Independent of any external signals (GPS etc.)

 No need of time synchronization at receivers

 Simple and reliable solution of receiving stations

 Open Architecture - Scalability

 Low installation, operation and maintenance costs

 ADS-B processing and surveillance

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Standards and Certifications

•Comply with the ICAO Annex 10 – Volume IV

•Comply with the EUROCONTROL Documents

•SUR.ET1.ST01.1000-STD-01-01
•Standard Document for Surveillance Data Exchange

•Comply with the EUROCAE WG-41 MOPS

•CAA Certification / MSS Type Approval

No.: S-74-01
• CAA Certification / Interrogator Type
Approval; No.: S-100-02

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How Does MSS Work?

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How Does MSS Work?

1st Phase – Target Localization

 Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA)
Beacon Multilateration

 Active Mode A/C/S Interrogation

 Multi-ranging Technique

 Mode A/C/S Transponder

Airborne

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How does MSS work?

1st Phase – Target Localization

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How does MSS work?

1st Phase – Target Localization

 Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA)
Beacon Multilateration
 Active Mode A/C/S Interrogation
 Mode A/C/S Transponder

Airborne

 Mode A/C Transponder Off (Wheel Switch)

 Mode S Squitter

Surface

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How to get A Code?

2nd Phase – Target Identification (Mode S)

 Flight Plan Data Correlation
 Selective Mode S Interrogation on
A Code, GND status, etc.

Target spontaneously
transmits
Mode S squitter

SSR receiving stations

transfer received Mode S squitter
to data processing

Data processing decodes

target’s Mode S address and
computes multilateration position

Data processing sends

Data processing produces
to Mode S interrogator decoded
output message with
Mode S address and
multilateration position and
command to send direct
Mode S address
Mode S interrogation UF=5

Mode S interrogator transmits ASTERIX

direct Mode S
interrogation UF=5

Addressed Target transmits

Mode S reply DF=5 containing
Mode A code

SSR receiving stations

transfer received Mode S reply
to data processing

 Mode S Identification Algorithm Data processing produces

output message with
Multilateration position,
Mode S address and Mode A code

ASTERIX

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MSS Location Accuracy

System Deployment vs. Location Accuracy

 The relation between 3D position precision and the geometry of the
system is described by PDOP (Position Dilution of Precision)
factor.

 The PDOP is given only by receivers’ geometrical deployment. The

receivers and time measurement devices have no influence on it.

 The PDOP is high, when large target movement causes small

changes in the time difference of signal arrival to the receivers.

 Similarly to PDOP we can define

HDOP - Horizontal Dilution of Precision.
VDOP - Vertical Dilution of Precision.

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MSS Location Accuracy
Position accuracy
left: target is in position with good PDOP
right: target is in position with worse PDOP

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