The Czech Republic, Finland and Austria join a growing list of pioneering countries offering operational EGNOS approach procedures.
As of January 2014, operators can utilise EGNOS approach procedures in the Czech Republic, Finland and Austria. EGNOS is Europe’s first concrete venture into satellite navigation. It uses geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations to receive, analyse, augment and re-transmit GPS, Glonass and eventually Galileo signals. The service makes existing satellite navigation signals suitable for such safety critical applications as flying aircraft. Under a delegation agreement with the European Commission, the GSA is taking over responsibility for the exploitation of EGNOS.
More airports benefiting from EGNOS
In the Czech Republic, operators will benefit from Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) approaches to two runway ends at both Brno and Ostrava airports. The Czech Civil Aviation Authority recently approved the possibility for operators to use EGNOS vertical guidance with Baro-VNAV procedures, meaning four runway ends at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague will benefit from EGNOS. Design of Baro and LPV procedures for Karlovy Vary Airport is also underway, leveraging the experience at the pioneer airports.
The implementation of EGNOS procedures at Finland’s Joensuu Airport was launched in December 2013. “Finavia is a pioneer in the implementation of satellite-based flight procedures in Europe,” says Raine Luojus, Senior Vice President and Air Navigation Director, Finavia. “The main operators’ modern fleets have enabled Finavia to introduce RNAV-based non-precision approach procedures at all our airports, allowing us to rollout EGNOS-based LPV approach procedures.”
Austria has long been an enthusiastic supporter of EGNOS, and today EGNOS approach procedures are operational at Linz and Graz airports. “We are pleased to be an early user of the innovative potential of EGNOS,” says Andreas Schallgruber, Head of ATM Operations, Austro Control. “Providing satellite-based augmentation system procedures further augments our excellent service levels and customer relations.” In the near future it is planned to implement additional procedures at other Austrian airports to benefit from EGNOS. Thanks to the experience gained during the implementation at these airports, Austro Control will be able to maintain its pioneer role in publishing innovative satellite based approach procedures.
EGNOS-enacted LPV approaches across Europe
The implementation of the new LPV approaches is enabled by the EU-funded Accelerating EGNOS Adoption in Aviation (ACCEPTA) project. ACCEPTA aims to procure a wide-scale, real-life adoption of EGNOS-enabled LPV approaches across Europe in areas where the EGNOS signal is available and certified.
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