METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE SENSORS

摘要

A method for calibrating a pressure-sensing altitude sensor (12) of an aircraft (10) while the aircraft (10) is in flight. The method includes the steps of obtaining a set of reference atmospheric pressures as a function of height above a base station (14) by affixing a reference pressure sensor (20) to a balloon (22). As the balloon (22) is released into the atmosphere, the reference sensor (20) continuously measures the atmospheric pressures and transmits the data back to the base station (14) while a ground-based radar (24) disposed adjacent the base station (14) measures the height of the balloon (22). An aircraft (10) can calibrate its pressure-sensing altitude sensors (12) by measuring the pressure outside the aircraft (10) and its geometric height relative to the base station (14) and then comparing the measurements with corresponding reference values.