MLAT trial at Dundee
 

I see they are rolling out some new technologies to track aircraft in a non radar envoroment. Is anyone familiar with this equipment?

https://www.worldatmcongress.org/Upl...onspicuity.pdf

Yep, there's quite significant deployment of MLAT in the "Land of the Long White Cloud ".

It's cheap way for the local ANSP ( I think it's called NATS in your part of the world) to provide surveillance , no more expensive radar heads. Along with ADSB it effectively shifts a lot of the costs of radar surveillance onto the aircraft owner.

But if I’m understanding it correctly it requires multiple off airport hardware units for monitoring in the airport vicinity which would incur costs to landlords for siting, utilities to power and connect the units if none exist and on going maintenance, similar to marker beacons which can incur significant costs.

I'm sorry I don't know the detail. I do know MLAT is providing coverage where traditional surveillance I.e radar cannot do so effectively and it's replacing radar because of cost advantages.

I suspect the sites are solar powered or are co located with other services that already have power on site. The MLAT sites also have a small footprint.

They are just a receiver with a small aerial with low power requirements. I don't know what the density requirements are but figure there are probably more cell phone towers per square area on average.

Have a look here. Wide Area Multilateration

This is just one page on that site, have a look around on there and I think it will answer your questions.

Hi Piperboy,
Strongly recommend that you come to the meeting at Perth on 21st.
There are six receivers in the local area including one at Perth. Come up to the tower and see the display. Uavionix are making a very generous offer to try to make the area 100 per cent known traffic.
Sorry, that was meant to be your quote Pb.

From piperboy's linkHas to? It's uncontrolled airspace FFS!

There is no way in hell this will create a known traffic environment.

It requires everything to have a mode S transponder and for it to be turned on.

And as most of he problem traffic in the area won't use a radio apart from the microlight chat frequency your on plums.

Edinburgh Approach uses Wide Area MLAT

Has a date for the start of the trial been set?

360radar.co.uk is an independent system for enthusiasts which is available to all for £20 a year. Free if you contribute data. The cost of contributing is about £100 for the hardware, and you need to have an internet connection.

One advantage of contributing is that you get your own local display.

Unlike FR24, this system will show you almost all ADSB traffic out there, including QRA, Tankers, Power FLARM and private jets. The big exceptions (for now) are F22 & F35.

Where aircraft are sending ModeS returns with position info, only one hit is required, but for calculating the position of an aircraft not sending gps co-ords, the system needs five receivers to see the transponder returns to workout where the aircraft is.

This is never going to work for Mode a/c only aircraft, as the older transponders all look the same, but ADSB / Mode S boxes are uniquely identified.

If you have a working transponder it is now a legal requirement to have it switched on.

There are steps in place to equip most of the locally based aircraft that are not already equipped. The critical area is not massive and the locals are being briefed.

Cloudhound,
Trial starts officially 22nd December.

So are the microlights getting mode S?

Why not? Mine has been so equipped in early 2017. And in Germany, for one example, the majority are.

There is zero reason why not...... And zero reason not to turn them on either.

Just as there is zero reason not to carry a radio or use it on a frequency that other airspace user are using.

Doesn't mean that they will do it.

It is in everyone interest to make this trial work to hold back the proliferation of controlled airspace.

All the Dundee and Leuchars based aircraft are equipped with either ADSB, Flarm or mode S and steps are underway to have the Perth based aircraft similarly equipped.

Leuchars and Scottish Tay sector control IFR arrivals and departures and there are letters of agreement between all parties. There is a determination to make this work in what is a busy training and recreational area.

@Tescoapp: zero reason? Except the limited availability of sponsors? I spent 2500+ € on 8,33 + mode-S but not everybody can. Are you going to ban them from the skies?

A few already have mode S. The other regular flyers are getting Sky Echo which is a key part of the trial.

No banning just pointing out that trying to make that bit of airspace known traffic is going to be very unlikely.

As its class G and by rights you don't need a radio never mind a transponder to be in it

It's just a trial at this stage, but if the results are satisfactory it may prevent the need for a TMZ or RMZ. Hopefully the LOA's will fill the gaps. Remember this is not for control. It's for awareness. From what I've seen so far it is excellent.