Flight Procedure Standards Branch-Satellite Procedures Implementation Team
The Navigation Branch of the CNS Engineering and Test Division at the William J. Hughes Technical Center has been a frequent partner with the Flight Procedure Standards Branch in the development of TERPS criteria. Their expertise in flight testing and data collection has been invaluable. The Tech Center is also our interface to other flight testing programs by the military and NavCanada. They also provide much of the specialized avionics used in the University of Oklahoma TERPS flight testing program.
Since 1994, the branch has been in a cooperative agreement with the University of Oklahoma's Electrical and Computer engineering for operational testing and data collection for Terps criteria development for category A and B aircraft. GPS testing was accomplished in 1994/1995.
In 1997, GPS/WAAS data collection flights were performed in CAT A/CAT B aircraft for instrument approach procedures. GPS/WAAS en-route and departure flights were accomplished in 1999/2000. GPS/LAAS flights are underway currently for both category aircraft. Preliminary data analysis is performed at OU and then the data is transferred to AFS-420 for statistical and analyzation. The data collected to date has played an instrumental role in the development of GPS/WAAS and GPS/LAAS criteria.
The branch has a cooperative research program with the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group currently focused on the development of obstacle free zone criteria for new larger aircraft (NLA). Data from the initial phases of that study has been presented to the ICAO OCP for their consideration. As part of the program, Boeing has provided the FAA with copies of the engineering simulation models for three of their high-end commercial aircraft for use in the Airspace Simulation and Analysis for TERPS system.
