ABSTRACT The use of smart devices is driving the growth of modern systems markets, resulting in more technological cities, cars, houses, and airplanes. Therefore, it is important to understand which smart technologies can support or even fulfill stakeholder needs and consequently enhance airplane operation and increase product competitiveness for airlines. This paper is the second of two-part series and has as its main objective the study of smart technologies that can be implemented on cabins of regional airplanes, from 60 to 120 seats, to comply with the needs and requirements pre-established on the first part of this series of articles. The integration of those technologies results in a “Smart Cabin” architecture which its purpose is to enhances the passenger experience by granting a new level of cabin comfort, customization, and connectivity that allows the reduction of airplane time on ground because of the real-time monitoring of airplane cabin components that enables the prediction of maintenance procedures; creates new profits and revenues opportunities for services, provides a more sustainable airplane operation and derived services, and creates new business opportunities for all companies that integrate regional aviation ecosystem.

ABSTRACT New technologies are increasingly being implemented in people’s daily lives and with the growth of smart devices around the globe, the users’ needs and demands have changed in favor of more technological cities, cars, houses, and airplanes. Therefore, it is important to define the stakeholder’s needs and requirements to understand which technologies, smart or not, can be implemented on the cabin to support or even fulfill stakeholder needs. Consequently, those technologies enhance airplane operation and increase product competitiveness for airlines. This paper is the first of a two-part series where design thinking tools are applied to establish high-level requirements based on the concept of a “Smart Cabin” for regional airplanes from 60 to 120 seats. To achieve this goal, a series of methods such as stakeholders’ studies, personas creation and user journey methods are used. The Smart Cabin concept aims to enhance the passenger experience by granting a new level of cabin comfort, customization and connectivity that allows the reduction of airplane time on ground because of the real-time monitoring of airplane cabin components that enables the prediction of maintenance procedures, creates new profits and revenues opportunities for services, provides a more sustainable airplane operation and derived services, and creates new business opportunities for all companies that integrate regional aviation ecosystem.

ABSTRACT The use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for air and terrestrial navigation and for many applications is increasing in the last decades. However, the Earth’s ionosphere causes GNSS signal delay due to the total electron content (TEC) and scintillation in the signal phase and amplitude. This scintillation can give rise to deleterious effects in the GNSS positioning. So, it is important to assess the effects of the ionosphere over the GNSS signal. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to have a large spatial and temporal coverage of data from many different sounders, being the GNSS receivers of great importance due to their global coverage and availability. In this work, we present a retrospective of the scintillation monitoring networks in Brazil and their characteristics. As the RBMC network managed by the IBGE provides TEC and as rate of TEC index (ROTI) is well correlated with ionospheric irregularities, we present also the RBMC network description. These RBMC GNSS receivers provide data in regions with scarcity of scintillation monitors. The description of the Ionospheric Scintillation Monitoring Receivers (ISMR) Query Tool, that is a web software that has been supporting research on the ISMR data, is also presented. (GNSS decades However Earths Earth s (TEC amplitude positioning So goal sounders availability work characteristics ROTI (ROTI irregularities monitors (ISMR Tool presented

ABSTRACT The air traffic environment is a complex system that involves several players. Between the air navigation service provider (ANPS) and the final client, many different organizations act with different purposes but are strongly interfaced. Changes and modifications in terms of technology, predefined process, or personnel are constantly needed, requiring coordination among the stakeholders. However, due to the high level of interaction between the players, any change in a complex system like the air traffic environment requires risk management. This paper demonstrates the suitability and advantages of the System-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes/Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STAMP/STPA) method to be applied to the risk assessment of an operational air traffic modification. The method, which had never been used on an air traffic problem in Brazil before, was applied considering the implementation of segregated simultaneous operation at the Guarulhos International Airport. The results were proven to be effective in terms of deriving useful safety requirements. From such demonstration, STAMP/STPA can be considered as a feasible alternative to the brainstorming method currently applied for risk assessment and generation of safety requirements regarding modifications in the structure of the air traffic services (ATS) in Brazil.

ABSTRACT Air navigation is increasingly dependent on the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). It allows the determination of the aircraft’s position in all phases of the flight and brings many advantages. Although GNSS navigation results in gains, the radio signals from these systems are strongly influenced by the ionospheric environment. It introduces errors that can affect the accuracy, integrity, availability and continuity requirements established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ionospheric layer has different behaviors depending on the latitude, time of day, season of the year, geomagnetic activity and solar cycle. Since Brazil is located in a region of low latitudes, it experiences a series of unique challenges when compared to regions of mid-latitudes. For this reason, the application of GNSS-based technologies in aviation over the Brazilian territory requires an in-depth assessment of the ionosphere effects. Therefore, the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) named GNSS Technology for Supporting Air Navigation was formed in 2017 to better assess the ionosphere impacts and assist government agencies and companies in the development of safe air navigation procedures over Brazil in a near future. This paper presents the most relevant advances achieved so far within this multidisciplinary project that involves Brazilian research centers and universities.

ABSTRACT The light-emitting diode (LED) is the main lighting solution currently adopted in aircraft cabin lighting. This technology offers high durability, energy efficiency and luminosity, bringing plenty of benefits for being utilized in an aircraft. Despite its high initial price, it has many advantages, and the operational cost is lower than other types of illumination, such as fluorescent lamps. Additionally, LED illumination may improve the flight experience, making it more comfortable and pleasant for the passengers. Aircraft that have fluorescent lamps in their cabin should consider the possibility to make an illumination retrofit to LED lamps, because weight is directly correlated to the fuel consumption and operational costs and the energy economy can bring new improvements to the aircraft. The objective of this work is to evaluate the economic viability of the LED system installation compared with a fluorescent lamps illumination system in a regional aircraft. The study of the data shows that the usage of LED lights could save up to 68% of the energy in a month compared to conventional fluorescent lamps in the ceiling lights and reduce by 38% the monthly operational costs of illumination. The payback period is 4.2 years according to the proposed system.

ABSTRACT Ionospheric dynamics over low latitudes, especially in Brazil, are highly active, with several phenomena resulting from the complex interaction between space weather and atmospheric elements. These phenomena may cause disruptions to aviation communications, navigation and surveillance systems. Motivated by the issues posed by the ionosphere to the operation of ground-based augmentation of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) in Brazil, this review paper presents fundamental physical aspects of space weather and low-latitude ionospheric dynamics to show how and why the ionosphere over Brazil is much more challenging for satellite-based positioning technologies. Solar influence, geomagnetic field configurations under quiet and storm periods, and the ensuing ionospheric dynamics over low latitudes occasionally lead to the development of structures known as equatorial plasma bubbles. These structures can produce strong plasma gradients within the ionosphere and cause scintillation on transionospheric signals. The consequences of these structures for GNSS users are specifically addressed.

ABSTRACT Ground-based augmentation systems (GBASs) were designed to support civil aviation precision approach and landing with safety and integrity. It has several advantages over traditional navigation aids, allowing airspace usage optimization and reduction of fuel consumption. However, in low-latitude regions such as Brazil, this technology is still not operational due to the strong influence of ionospheric variability. Considering the increased interest in deploying a GBAS station in Brazil along with efforts toward this goal over the last decade, this paper is the first of a two-part series that provides an overview of the key aspects of this technology and the challenges posed when using it in low-latitude regions. The context in which GBAS operates today in midlatitudes is presented along with its fundamental principles and methods of guaranteeing sufficient accuracy, continuity, and integrity for precision operations, particularly those dealing with threatening ionospheric conditions. Finally, the evolution of GBAS to include multiple Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite constellations and signal frequencies are discussed with respect to their ability to mitigate ionospheric effects. The conclusion is that the use of these new elements of GBAS seem to be the most viable solution for operating GBAS in low latitudes with high availability.

Abstract: Equatorial scintillation is a phenomenon that occurs daily in the equatorial region after the sunset and affects radio signals that propagate through the ionosphere. Depending on the temporal and spatial situation, equatorial scintillation can represent a problem in the availability and precision of the Global Positioning System (GPS). This work is concerned with evaluating the impact of equatorial scintillation on the performance of GPS receivers. First, the morphology and statistical model of equatorial scintillation is briefly presented. A numerical model that generates synthetic scintillation data to simulate the effects of equatorial scintillation is presented. An overview of the main theoretical principles on GPS receivers is presented. The analytical models that describe the effects of scintillation at receiver level are presented and compared with numerical simulations using a radio software receiver and synthetic data. The results achieved by simulation agreed quite well with those predicted by the analytical models. The only exception is for links with extreme levels of scintillation and when weak signals are received.