MICONAV

Migration towards Integrated COM/NAV Avionics

The ATM-modernization process carried out by SESAR (Europe) and NextGEN (USA) aims to achieve a highly performant and efficient civil aviation to meet the challenges of future ATM. However, implementing the techniques as developed within SESAR and NextGEN requires a modern and powerful CNS (Communications, Navigation and Surveillance) infrastructure. LDACS (L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System) is the future terrestrial air-ground data link. For navigation a stronger dependency on GNSS in all phases of flight is planned. This emphasizes the necessity of a GNSS-back-up system known as APNT (Alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing).
The communications system LDACS has already achieved a high level of maturity, see www.ldacs.com. Utilization of LDACS additionally as an APNT-solution strengthens the favorable synergy effects and minimizes costs since having deployed LDACS as a communications system no additional infrastructure will be needed for an APNT-system. The project MICONAV counts on two already finished projects: ICONAV and LDACS-NAV and acts as a bridge towards SESAR 2020. The results of the project MICONAV are communicated within related international organizations such as EUROCONTROL and ICAO.

The in-flight measurements within MICONAV planned for 2018 are of special interest and are quite challenging. The real-time implemented LDACS transmitter and receiver with APNT-capability will be used under realistic conditions. Four ground stations transmit LDACS-signals for communications. One airborne station onboard of an aircraft receives the communications messages and utilizes the signals of ground stations for ranging and position determination. Ground and airborne stations act as transmitters and receivers. Thus, Validation of both communications and navigation components of LDACS is feasible at the same time.

Project Goals

Implementation of real-time and specifications-fulfilling LDACS(COM) transmitter and receiver
Implementation of real-time ranging and position determining capabilities LDACS(NAV) taking into account integrity issues.
Definition and implementation of suitable interface(s) between both communications and navigation components of the system LDACS.
Validating the overall-system by in-flight measurements

Project Facts

National funding within the research program LuFo – V2 (Luftfahrt-Forschungsprogramm) of the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy BMWi
Project management DLR: Dr. Mohamad Mostafa

Project Partners