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Grade – GNSS solutions for increased ga and rotorcraft airport accessibility demonstration

Status:  COMPLETED

Title of proposal:  GRADE (GNSS Solutions for Increased GA and Rotorcraft Airport Accessibility Demonstration) SESAR-VLD1-09-2016

Grant agreement number: 783170

Time frame: According to the EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 – (2014-2020)

Objective:

The aim of project GRADE is preparation and conduction of a large-scale demonstration of the capabilities for integration of general aviation and rotorcraft into the airspace and the airports where SESAR specific technologies have been implemented. GRADE project includes demonstrations of the applications of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Simultaneous Non-Interfering (SNI) on the activities of general aviation and rotorcraft, consisting of real-time simulations and flight trials. The flight trials are conducted at two different sites with three different aircrafts (two different aircrafts and one rotorcraft) and they generate data and sound effects, which could be used for supporting the requirements for regulation, standardization and certification of general aviation and rotorcraft. Expectations are, that project GRADE will improve  safety and  access to airports for general aviation and rotorcraft, namely: 1) regional and small airports, which are not equipped with Instrumental Landing Systems (ILS); 2) big airports that are not equipped with ILS and 3) big airports equipped with ILS (for the equipment of general aviation and rotorcraft, which do not have ILS equipment onboard).

BULATSA participates in the preparation and performance of validations and demonstrations under project GRADE umbrella together with the following European partners:

  • CIRA (Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali ScpA) – Italian Aerospace Research Center and coordinator of the project;
  • DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.) – German Center for Air Navigation and Space Research;
  • MATS (Malta Air Traffic Services) – ANSP of Malta;
  • NAIS (Nextant Applications & Innovative Solution S.r.l.) – Italian technology company;
  • TUBS (Technische Universitaet Braunschweig) – Technical University in Braunschweig;
  • UPTH (Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope) – Parthenope University in Naples.

Between 15-18 October and 19-23 November 2018, at the Italian Aerospace Research Center (CIRA) real-time simulations with the participation of BULATSA air traffic controllers were conducted. The purpose of the simulations was to validate and confirm the concepts for the next stage of the project, namely flight trials with a real aircraft. BULATSA’s team worked on ATM procedures, airspace design, Human-Machine Interface – HMI, and level and complexity of the simulated traffic. The various exercises performed tested two different software for tablets, which will be presented as equipment on board the aircraft during the final stage of the flying trials and are a main subject of evaluation of the project.

On November 23, 2018, a Visitor’s Day was held at CIRA. All project partners took part, as well as representatives from SESAR Joint Undertaking. During the Visitor’s Day three real-time simulations were conducted with the purpose of running scenarios using different software and HMI developed under the project. In the first two simulations a tablet with software developed by the Italian company NAIS was used, and in the third simulation software developed by the Technical University of Braunschweig (TUBS)was used. Different levels of traffic load with different visibility were also tested.

On 29 November 2018 in Braunschweig, Germany, another Visitor’s Day was held.

Between June and August 2019, there will be flight trials of the project solutions. Additional information about the project is available on the following site: https://www.gradeproject.eu/

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