PRE-flight checks of navigation systems and PAPI lights using a UAV

Abstract

One of the ATSEP1 activities which has considerable effect on safety is activities which should be done prior, during and after flight inspection and among these activities prior flight inspection has a considerable importance among them. ATSEP activities prior flight check due to technological and tools shortcoming include just ground test which does not completely fulfill the requirements of this because the maintenance activities and measurements confined to the signal in a limited height from ground. These shortcomings became significant in case of some naviads that the propagation beam formed in a considerably height above earth which glide path from ILS2 NAVAID is a good example and from visual aids navigation systems PAPI3 lights also have a same condition. In this paper doing prior flight inspection which called pre-flight checks proposed to be done by the use of an equipped UAV4 with required instruments to measure GP5-LLZ6 navigation systems and PAPI lights to ensure the accuracy of the data transmission of these NAVAIDs and performing the required adjustments if required for any change or displacement prior performing the Flight Inspection. This method has been examined for the first time on GP navigation system in SHOHADAYE ILAM Airport of IRAN, which the result was completely satisfactory and considerably reduced maintenance activities prior and during flight inspection and finally reduced flight inspection time due to equipment fine tuning.