GBAS - How It Works
GBAS - How It Works
GBAS - How It Works
Federal Aviation
Administration
A GBAS Ground Facility typically has three or more GPS antennas, a central
processing system (i.e., a computer), and a VHF Data Broadcast (VDB (VHF Data
Broadcast)) transmitter all locally situated on or near an airport. GBAS airborne
equipment consists of a GPS antenna, a Very High Frequency (VHF (Very High
Frequency)) antenna, and associated processing equipment. On board the aircraft,
GBAS avionics within the Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR (Multi-Mode Receiver))
technology allows simultaneous implementation of GPS, GBAS and ILS using
common antennas and hardware. The GBAS Ground Facility uses the VHF radio
link to provide aircraft with GPS corrections, integrity, and approach path
information.
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The GBAS, with reference antennas in known surveyed positions, receives signals
from GPS satellites. The reference receivers measure the time of transmission
between the GPS satellite and the reference antenna and determines the distance
the signal traveled. The GBAS Ground Facility then compares the measured
distance with the actual distance based on the broadcast satellite position and the
true GPS reference receiver position, and determines the error in the measurement.
The average error measured by all operational reference receivers represents the
correction term the GBAS avionics needs to apply to the satellite ranges measured
by the GBAS avionics.
The GBAS Ground Facility also monitors general GPS satellite performance. The
GBAS avionics only uses GPS satellites for which it receives valid ground
corrections. When the GBAS Ground Facility determines there is a potential
problem with a GPS satellite or when it cannot monitor a GPS satellite, it stops
broadcasting corrections for that particular satellite, effectively preventing the GBAS
avionics from using the satellite.
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The GBAS Ground Facility also includes parameters which permit the GBAS
avionics to determine the bound on the calculated GPS position that is only likely to
be incorrect about one time per ten million calculations, thereby providing
confidence the calculated position is correct.
This GBAS Ground Facility broadcasts an updated correction message two times
every second through the VHF data broadcast (VDB). The VDB messages contain
the corrections, integrity parameters, GBAS Ground Facility characteristics and
approach path guidance for up to 48 approaches.
The VDB broadcasts the GBAS signal throughout the GBAS coverage area to
avionics in GBAS-equipped aircraft. GBAS provides its service to a local area
(approximately a 23 nautical mile radius). The GBAS service volume is designed to
support the aircraft as it transitions from en route airspace, through the terminal
airspace through the precision approach and landing.
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The GBAS equipment in the aircraft uses the corrections to more accurately
compute GPS position, velocity, and time to guide the aircraft safely to the runway.
This signal provides ILS-look-alike guidance. The current system only has
operational approval for use in weather minima to 200 feet above touchdown, with
continued research and development to enable operational approval of the use of
GBAS all the way to the runway surface.
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