Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing System (MATCALS) Investigation

: Georgia Tech investigated several areas relating to the development of the Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing System (MATCALS). Several factors relating to the specification and testing of the MATCALS Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) were studied. These include: (1) MTI improvement factor. Models of the amplitude distributions and spectral characteristics are identified and explained in the light of specifications for an ASR system; (2) L-band versus S- band transmit frequency considerations are enumerated with emphasis on the phenomenological limitations of the MTI improvement factor; (3) Three methods of measuring a radar's minimum detectable signal level are discussed. These include direct measurement, determination of the tangential sensitivity, and noise figure measurement; and (4) Remoting of the MATCALS CCS from the ASR using a fiber optic data link was investigated. Data from the AN/TPN-22 test flight program is also presented. The statistical analysis methods are explained and effects of the multipath fence and enhanced F-4J target are explored. A preliminary conclusion from the brief analysis is that the major source of azimuth tracking error in the radar itself.