March 27, 2013. Aeroflex has announced its GPSG-1000 Portable GPS Simulator can now simulate WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) LPV (Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance).
The FAA created the WAAS program in 1992 to provide the necessary integrity to utilize GPS signals for precision approaches. The WAAS consists of a network of precisely surveyed wide area reference stations (WRS). These reference stations monitor GPS satellites to determine errors in the GPS satellite signal. Each reference station relays the information about the GPS satellites to the WAAS wide-area master stations (WMS). The master station then develops corrections to the GPS position information and provides timely notification of unreliable GPS data. These corrections are sent to ground uplink stations (GUS) where they are transmitted in the form of a WAAS correction message to a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite. The WAAS signal is then broadcast to users on the same frequency as GPS. This WAAS corrected signal provides three-dimensional guidance to aircraft.
Aeroflex has developed the capability of simulating WAAS LPV approaches to expedite and validate the installation of WAAS enabled navigation systems in aircraft. The GPSG-1000 offers the following capabilities to installers of these systems:
perform structured, repeatable dynamic motion tests (actual flight) of a WAAS/LPV installation;
check and validate the sensitivity and dynamic range of an airborne GPS receiver, either statically or while in motion;
reduce aircraft down time and flight demonstration time required by FAA
provide additional support data for documenting proper FAA processes of WAAS/LPV system upgrades or installs without leaving the hangar
New GPSG-1000 simulators are ready for immediate delivery. For existing GPSG-1000 customers, a no-charge software upgrade will be available by mid-April 2013.
