Research on global tracking and monitoring technology of aircraft based on multi-information sources

Abstract

The white paper of Aircraft tracking operation-Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) is proposed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after MH370 event, which requires all member states to improve global tracking and monitoring capability of aircraft. It is difficult to realize the global tracking and monitoring of aircraft using conventional single surveillance method under the existing mature technology conditions. For example, there is the existence of coverage blind area using PSR and ADS-B due to the limitation of constructing ground station, and it is unknown the status of the aircraft operating in foreign countries because of the above data having not been shared all over the world. It is lack of timeliness and effectiveness for tracking and monitoring the aircraft owing to the low update rate, message loss, message false of the OOOI and positon message of ACARS. Different information sources(SSR, ADS-B, OOOI and positon message of ACARS, flight plan) for the same aircraft are associated by flight number, take-off/landing time and airport, also extrapolation criterion is used in this paper. SSR and ADS-B have priority to be used to surveillance the aircraft if above signals are covered. The remaining oil, take-off/landing time and airport, aircraft nationality registration numbers and the other important information are obtained by OOOI and positon message of ACARS and flight plan. ACARS is used to surveillance the aircraft without PSR or ADS-B. Otherwise, the flight plan is used to predict and deduce when the above three kinds of information are absent. The global tracking and monitoring of the whole flight process of the same flight is realized through complementary advantages of various information. Finally, all aircraft operating at home and abroad but attached to China can be tracked and monitored well, which ensured flight safety.