The GSA recently announced the projects selected for funding under its 2014 Aviation Call for Grants. The first Call brought great results, with 13 out of the submitted 38 proposals being awarded funding. The grant will foster EGNOS operational implementation for all aviation sectors, including commercial, regional, business, general and rotorcraft.

             Read This: EGNOS Aviation Market Report

The selected projects are expected to play a significant role in both expanding the implementation of EGNOS based procedures at airports and in the installation of GPS/EGNOS enabled avionics.

Specifically, the following results are expected:

• Sixty-nine new RNP approaches based on EGNOS at 36 aerodromes
• The launch of the first LPV-200 procedures in Europe, allowing for a CAT I level of performance
• The implementation of two procedures in a non-instrument runway, allowing these procedures to be used to improve safety in aerodromes that lack complex ground infrastructure
• Eight Point in Space (PinS) procedures in 7 helipads
• Four Air Operators will retrofit 65 aircraft
• Three upgrades to rotorcraft avionics
• Three flight simulators will be upgrade with EGNOS avionics and
• Service Bulletins will be developed to allow more simulators to provide EGNOS training

“The number of new procedures implemented thanks to the GSA Aviation Grant will have a huge impact in respect to the current EGNOS enabled network,” says GSA Market Development Officer Carmen Aguilera. 

Aguilera also notes the grants will not only extend the EGNOS enabled network, but also help fill the gaps of where EGNOS procedures are available in Europe, allowing more operators to benefit from it. “These projects are a good opportunity for airports, airspace users and operators to work together to explore all the synergies coming from this joint effort,” she says. “With more of Europe being able to take advantage of EGNOS procedures, the aviation sector will benefit from increased safety and more accessibility – a win-win for everyone involved.”

The total budget for the call was EUR 6 million. The Second Call is expected to launch later this month – stay tuned for more details.

SB: Service Bulletin, STC: Supplemental Type Certificate, VFR: Visual Flight Rules, ATC: Air Traffic Control

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).