Real-time kinematic differential GPS positioning for flight inspection

The purpose of a flight inspection system is to calibrate and evaluate the performance of aircraft navigation and landing aids to ensure conformance to specifications. This mission requires that the flight inspection platform have a reference position estimate significantly more accurate than that of the facility under inspection. This paper describes accurate positioning techniques using GPS carrier phase measurements, and their application to the flight. inspection mission. Single frequency (L1) and dual frequency (L1/L2) receivers were flight tested on a turboprop flight inspection aircraft owned and operated by the Air Traffic and Airport Administration (LRI) of Hungary. A highly accurate infrared tracking system developed for fast target trajectography was used as a reference for the RTK DGPS positions. This paper also presents the results of this flight test.