A9.4 - An Analysis for Regional Data Availability and Out of LOS Conditions
- Event
- ETTC 2026 - European Test and Telemetry Conference
2026-06-09 - 2026-06-11
Nuremberg - Chapter
- RF Spectrum III
- Author(s)
- Y. Soysal, I. U. Kandemir, M. M. Gecgel, I. C. Polat, M. K. Arpacioglu - Turkish Aerospace Inc., Ankara (Turkey)
- Pages
- 164 - 170
- DOI
- 10.5162/ettc2026/A9.4
- Price
- free
Abstract
During flight test operations at Turkish Aerospace Inc., maintaining continuous telemetry data reception is critical for safety and performance evaluation. To accurately identify, categorize, and predict regions of telemetry signal loss, a dual-component real-time analysis framework was developed. This paper presents the design and implementation of two custom real-time data acquisition modules — Out of Line of Sight Conditions and Regional Data Availability — integrated directly into the IADS (Interactive Analysis and Display System) telemetry ground station environment using external software applications. The framework partitions the airspace into two distinct operational envelopes based on altitude. For offrunway, high-altitude flights (above 3,000ft), the Out of Line of Sight Conditions module dynamically verifies the aircraft's position against geometric Line-of-Sight (LoS) limits. Utilizing current velocity and heading data, it provides test conductors with real-time predictive alerts, calculating exactly when and where the aircraft will breach LoS boundaries if current flight parameters are maintained. Conversely, for on-runway and low-altitude operations (below 3,000ft), the Regional Data Availability module performs granular telemetry coverage analysis. It calculates the percentage of successful telemetry link reception across specific runway sectors, generating observational data to drive targeted RF infrastructure and antenna placement improvements. Post-flight, this comprehensive suite enables engineers to definitively attribute data dropouts to physical LoS limitations rather than onboard equipment or ground station anomalies. Ultimately, this real-time data acquisition approach significantly enhances situational awareness during flight tests and provides actionable metrics for continuous telemetry coverage optimization.