Distance measuring equipment tracer

Distance measuring equipment tracer (DEMETER) is a software tool that supports the implementation of performance based navigation (PBN), as well as the optimisation and rationalisation of navigation infrastructure.

The tool facilitates collaboration between airspace planners, procedure designers, navaids engineers and flight inspectors. It helps them establish distance measuring equipment DME/DME positioning as a continuous ground-based back-up solution to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for PBN.

DEMETER is designed to assess the performance of DME/DME positioning en-route and in-terminal manoeuvring area (TMA) airspace. It can be used to determine which ground infrastructure enhancements or changes are needed to better support PBN applications, such as RNAV 1 SIDs, STARs and RNAV 5 en route. This is done according to the EUROCONTROL guidelines on RNAV 1 infrastructure assessment (EUROCONTROL-GUID-0114), developed in cooperation with the ICAO Navigation Systems Panel (NSP) on the basis of ICAO SARPS (ICAO Annex 10 Vol. I) and the Performance-based Navigation Manual (ICAO Doc. 9613).

The software tool also supports the assessment of VOR/DME coverage and redundancy for RNAV 5 applications, as well as infrastructure evolution planning (VOR rationalisation, DME/DME optimisation).

Training courses are available from the EUROCONTROL Aviation Learning Centre (ALC) which provide hands-on experience in using DEMETER for ground-based navigation infrastructure assessment and planning.

DEMETER is currently used by air navigation service provider (ANSP) organisations in most ECAC (European Civil Aviation Conference) member states.

It is used globally by:

• organisations providing flight inspection or procedure design services;
• research institutes;
• universities.

SESAR projects have used DEMETER for the ECAC-wide assessment of the ground navigation infrastructure to evaluate its rationalisation potential and to identify optimisation solutions.