At the Farnborough International Airshow, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) announced that Rockwell Collins’ flight management system and GNSS receiver enabled the first successful demonstration of advanced arrival and departure flight operations for the FilGAPP programme – the EU’s airspace enhancement project.
Filling the gap in GNSS advanced procedures and operations, or FilGAPP, is the EU 
programme aiming to develop efficient and accurate methods for navigating airspace. To accomplish this, the programme uses satellite-based navigation tools, such as EGNOS, and advanced flight management system (FMS) functions.
In advancement of this objective, Rockwell Collins’ FMS and GNSS receiver recently enabled the first successful demonstration of advanced arrival and departure flight operations for the project. The demonstration was the first time a high-precision, high-integrity missed approach/departure has been performed in Europe. The demonstration flights also validated technical and operational independence from nearby ATC systems, assuring increased operational capacity for airports.
Read more: "Filling The Gap" In GNSS Advanced Procedures And Operations
As a leading avionics manufacturer, Rockwell Collins is an ideal partner in this endeavour. “FilGAPP highlights the opportunity that exists for air carriers and corporate operators to increase operating capacity and to save time and fuel through more efficient terminal procedures at European airports,” says Rockwell Collins’ vice president and managing director Claude Alber.
“Airspace users demand advanced procedures, to enjoy further operational benefits and use capabilities already available on board”, said Gian Gherardo Calini, Head of Market Development at GSA. “European GNSS, and EGNOS in particular, delivers positioning and timing information, enabling such operations, as demonstrated in FilGAPP”.
FilGAPP is a project under the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme. It is managed by the GSA and coordinated by INECO, along with industry and national air navigation service providers.
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