Real Time and Post-Processing Flight Inspection by Drone: A Review
Sékou Togola, Sountongnoma Martial Anicet Kiemde, Ahmed Dooguy Kora · Advances in Science Technology and Engineering Systems Journal · 2021
Air Navigation Aids (NAVAIDs) whether implemented on the ground or in space and the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system need to be checked in flight to ensure compliance with the standards set by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).This activity has been carried out for decades by conventional aircraft and is usually done at low altitude around airports.This makes the task very dangerous and costly in terms of human lives.The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) or Drone to provide flight inspection and to progressively replace conventional aircraft through two measurement methods are described in this paper.We also propose an improved real-time trajectography system based on a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) correction, a comparative cost study between aircraft and UAV, while proposing levers for reducing flight inspection time and thus reducing costs.Study of environmental impact of flight inspection is discussed and strategies for using drones to reduce flight inspection costs are also discussed.From this study we draw the conclusions that flight inspection by drone allows first of all the risk of accident reduction for the navigation personnel on board and therefore a completely safe conduct of flight inspection; also it is cheaper for the air navigation services to use drones in addition to the fact that they are ecological solutions as they produces less greenhouse gases unlike the aircraft.