ICAO 8071 VOL III ✓ Most Recent [ Active ]

THE PURPOSE OF THE DOCUMENT

This document describes system performance testing (evaluation) methods for surveillance systems.

Organization of the document

This document is arranged into the following parts:

a) organization of surveillance sensor systems; 

b) sensor system performance test methodology; 

c) test application; 

d) detailed radar test methods (testing of individual parameters); 

e) impact of test results on the operational use of radar systems; and 

f) impact of transponder characteristics on radar performance.

It also includes the following appendices:

— flight testing methods, Appendix A; 

— secondary surveillance radar (SSR), Appendix B; 

— overview of radar siting aspects, Appendix C; and 

— examples of radar analysis systems, Appendix D.

Scope of the document

This document describes methods for the evaluation and testing of the technical and operational performance of surveillance sensor systems. Automatic monitoring and testing of modern equipment by means of built-in test equipment (BITE) has greatly reduced the need for extensive ground testing and allows economies to be made in this activity. The periodical check and maintenance actions necessary (and their frequency) for the good functioning of the radar system are very equipment and system specific. The schedule for such actions will not form part of this document and the surveillance system user is referred to the maintenance manuals and related recommendations provided by the surveillance system manufacturers.

Use of the document

It is intended that this document be used by the following ATC staff:

a) implementation engineers involved with new or modified surveillance systems, where the performance of the new equipment must be evaluated (commissioning and operational evaluations);

b) maintenance engineers, for assistance in the detection of system problems or anomalies (problem investigation, often resulting from operational complaints) using measurement, simulation and evaluation techniques;

c) maintenance engineers, following a major repair action and possibly some forms of system modification (repair/modification confirmation); and

d) maintenance engineers, in order to confirm on a periodic basis that no system degradation has occurred (routine maintenance).

For each of the above actions, the related technical staff shall, where applicable, cooperate with operational ATC staff in order to carry out a suitable performance evaluation and/or problem investigation using an appropriate combination of:

— opportunity traffic; 

— dedicated aircraft; 

— simulated or recorded data; 

— the BITE of the system under test; and 

— real-time quality control (RTQC) facilities of the equipment itself.

Each performance evaluation and/or problem investigation will involve actions at different system levels and/or the use of predefined actions. All such actions are described in the appropriate sections of this document.