Determination of Horizontal and Vertical Phase of Flight in Recorded Air Traffic Data

Abstract

This paper presents two algorithms that determine an aircraft's phase of flight state in post-analysis using tracked radar surveillance data. These algorithms determine the horizontal phase of flight (whether the aircraft was flying straight or turning) and the vertical phase of flight (whether the aircraft was flying level or transitioning; i.e., ascending or descending). The paper presents the algorithms and identifies their input parameters. It then discusses the design of experiment analysis that was used to determine the algorithms' optimum performance using Global Positional Satellite position data. Examples clarifying the algorithms' application are provided along with a comparison of the new algorithms and the legacy version that it replaces.