Global positioning system, relative navigation, precision approach current national airspace navigation requires multiple navigation aids to support en route, non-precision approach, and precision approach and landing. Multiple navigation systems are expensive to maintain and operate. This expense limits the availability of precision approach and landing services primarily to minor regional airports. Unaided GPS receivers will soon be able to meet enroute and non-precision approach performance requirements. Our objective is to assess the technical feasibility, economic viability and operational requirements support capabilities of a GPS relative navigation based precision approach and landing system. Various forms of GPS aiding, such as the relative navigation system we propose, have great potential to support precision approach and landing requirements, while using the same equipment which supports en route and non-precision approach requirements. Res: a GPS relative navigation based precision approach and landing capability can serve as an inexpensive alternative for airports which currently do not possess a category I system, and can not afford to procure or do not need the full capabilities of an mls.
