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 Area Navigation applications, such as RNAV 1 (P-RNAV), in these phases of flight. This is done according to EUROCONTROL’s guidelines on P-RNAV infrastructure assessment (EUROCONTROL-GUID-0114), as developed in cooperation with the ICAO Navigation Systems Panel (NSP) and endorsed by the Performance Based Navigation Study Group (PBNSG).

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

Training courses are available from IANS Luxemburg (NAV-DEM, Intro and advanced). They allow users to become familiar with the tool’s many functionalities.

• Navigation infrastructure assessment using DEMETER - Introduction - NAV-DEM-INTRO
• Navigation infrastructure assessment using DEMETER - Advanced - NAV-DEM-ADV

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.