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From August 1998 FPL standardized on the use of AD-FIS flight inspection systems for all its work. The AD-FIS is a highly integrated and fully digital flight inspection system, which derives its technical superiority from advanced methods in real-time data processing and precision satellite navigation. Due to a high level of software support in the system, operation of the system is simple, easy to learn and allows the flight inspector to focus on the assessment of the measured data. Several multi-tasking features allow to save flying time with the equipment and to maximize productivity of the available flight inspection aircraft. High emphasis was placed on crew co-ordination in the flight inspection aircraft, which is improved through flight inspection displays in the cockpit and autopilot coupling. |
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The flight inspection procedures of the AD-FIS for the
calibration of radio air navigation stations are based on the ICAO recommendations
(DOC 8071), CAP 670, the FAA flight inspection manual and correspond to
the requirements of NATO STANAG A Et P-1(D).
The system is entirely operated from an operator console with two colour liquid crystal displays (LCD), keyboard with function keys, trackball and audio control. The navaid inspector selects the procedures, output selection and, most important, data analysis. The FIS computer will perform most other system management tasks, such as receiver switching, frequency tuning and position reference selection. It is configured for this purpose by an extensive database including a detailed facility library. System operation has been designed to reduce operator workload to a minimum and to present the required information in a clear and easy to interpret manner. Particular attention was paid to consistent operator action throughout all calibration tasks. |
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The ADFIS system consists of the following subsystems
 Flight
inspection receivers
Position
reference system
Data
processing equipment
Operator
console
Aircraft
interfaces
The FIS computer reads digital and analogue data from the flight inspection receivers and the position reference system, normally via ARINC 429 data bus. The genuine sensor data is directly recorded on a mass storage unit, which allows its complete reprocessing without any loss of information. Simultaneously to the recording process, the data is used to calculate station parameters such as errors and mean values. Output to a printer is generated via standardized Centronics printer interface.
A hard disk drive in the mass storage unit contains the flight inspection software and the database. The database, which includes data acquisition channel assignment, map data and a facility library, which, is maintained by Flight Precision Limited.
The map data for the display screens is generated on the basis of digital map data from Jeppesen.
The FIS configuration includes the following flight inspection receiver set:
Dual
Nav-receiver for ILS and VOR calibration
Marker
receiver
TACAN
interrogator for TACAN calibration
DME
interrogator for DME calibration
ADF
Transponder
VHF
and UHF, radio
Oscilloscope
Spectrum
Analyser
The AD-FIS is supplied from an interface panel in the cabin, such that no complex modifications have to be performed on the aircraft.
The data from the position reference sensors is also transmitted in digital form to the computer and processed there to calculate the reference positions. An UHF telemetry link serves as a data up-link from the deployable ground equipment.
Independent VHF and UHF radios as well as intercom allow the flight inspector to listen in on the cockpit conversations and to communicate with the ground personnel. Audio signals from the receivers can be switched to the intercom to verify proper identification codes of the navigation stations.
The FIS computer is equipped with a digital IEC bus controller, such that the system can automatically be calibrated and can control supplementary equipment such as a spectrum analyser. |
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The AD-FIS includes an option of position reference equipment, which can meet any operational requirement of approach aid calibration:
Laser
tracking coupled with INS and barometric altimeter
Differential
GPS
Each variant has its individual strengths and advantages in a specific operational environment.
For en-route calibration, the AD-FIS relies on a coupled system of GPS and baro altimeter. This system is fully ground independent and allows in combination with the AD-FIS software features the substantial reduction of en-route flying hours.
For ILS the laser tracking system is currently the most accurate and proven system. It achieves a repeatable positioning accuracy at the threshold of better than 15 cm.
The laser tracker is set up next to the runway in the vicinity of the glide path antenna and hence does not interfere with regular air traffic during the calibration.
The laser tracker operates in the near infrared band and only requires a passive set of prism reflectors on the aircraft, which are installed in form of a removable reflector. |
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The following set of antennas is installed on the calibration aircraft:
Combined
LLZ/GS U-dipole antenna
ILS
Loop antenna
L-Band
antennas
ADF-antenna
VHF/UHF
communication antenna
GPS
antenna
Telemetry
antennas
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Beyond the flight inspection receivers, the on-board data
processing equipment includes the components of the telemetry package
and the data processing system. The on-board data processing unit comprises
an airworthy computer AERODATA AD-VC6 in the size "1 1/2 ATR short" according
to the ARINC specification 404A. The computer is based on the Motorola
processor 68060 and is designed almost completely in CMOS technology.
It consists of the following components: CPU
68060 with 2 Mbytes EPROM, 32 Mbytes RAM and 2 serial interfaces RS-422
and RS-232, respectively
Multi
purpose time management and digital/analogue I/O interface
ARINC-429
interfaces
Analogue
interface with 16 channel 12 bit A/D converter
Transputer
Module with INMOS T800
SCSI-Bus
interface
Digital
multi purpose bus interface
High-speed
oscilloscope card
2
Colour Display Controllers
The oscilloscope card represents a high-speed digital signal buffer, which can record video signals following a trigger impulse. Data in the buffer can be displayed on the LCD-screens. The card fulfils the function of a two-channel digital memory oscilloscope.
The mass storage subsystem AD-MS 2 is equipped with a 2 GB fixed disk drive for the operating system and MODAMS-FI, a magneto optical drive which is used for the storage of flight inspection results and a 1.44 MB floppy disk drive for software transfers. |
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The ground-based equipment includes
DGPS
ground reference station
Laser
tracking system with ground station
The DGPS ground reference station is integrated into a transportable box for easy deployment at the various airports. |
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