Characterization of the 5 GHz wireless channel for small airport surface areas

This paper presents measured results and empirical wireless channel models for small airport surface environments at 5 GHz. The measurements were conducted at three general aviation (GA) airports: Burke Lakefront Airport (Cleveland), Tamiami (Miami), and Ohio University Airport. The transmitter was fixed either atop the air traffic control tower or on a building roof, and the receiver moved around the terminal and runway areas. For initial modeling purposes, we parsed the measurement locations geographically into line of sight-open (LOSO) areas, line of sight (LOS-2) and non line of sight-specular (NLOS-S) regions. Delay spread estimates - minimum, root mean square (rms), and maximum - are provided, along with the statistical distribution of the rms delay spread. Maximum delay spread values of 2 microseconds were obtained in some locations. Example plots for channel transfer functions and frequency correlation estimates yield estimates of coherence bandwidths. An example tapped delay line channel model, along with statistical tap amplitude distributions, is also provided, along with example tap correlation coefficients.