Patent ID: 9024805
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A method of determining altitude of an aircraft using an onboard radar/antenna system, the method comprising: receiving first data associated with an aircraft position; receiving second data associated with a position of a first point and a second point on the runway, and an altitude of the first point and the second point on the runway; providing radar signals to the runway using the onboard radar/antenna system; receiving radar returns from the runway using the onboard radar/antenna system wherein third data is associated with the radar returns from the runway; determining a first range between the aircraft and the first point on the runway and a second range between the aircraft and the second point on the runway, using the first and second data; determining a first angle between the first point on the runway and the aircraft, and a second angle between the second point on the runway and the aircraft, using the third data; determining a corrected angle relative to the first point and the second point; and determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the altitude of at least one of the first point and the second point, and at least one of the first range and the second range.