Attitude Determination System

Gradient measurements are affected by the pitch, roll and yaw of the aircraft as the pilot responds to cross winds and terrain. The effect of attitude on a particular measurement is dependent on the magnitude of the gradient and the amount of deviation from straight and level flight. This compound effect cannot be accounted for by tie-line levelling of the data, as it is both non-systematic and at a shorter wavelength than the tie line separation. Goldak's Attitude Determination System can determine the aircraft's attitude to the sub-degree level allowing us to correct the data for attitude before levelling which insures that the levelling corrections are kept to a minimum.

Figure 1: Raw Lateral Gradient.

Figure 2: Same data as above after adjusting for aircraft attitude.