Airservices Australia will start to install Honeywell's SmartPath precision landing system at major airports throughout the country from the end of this year. This follows US Federal Aviation Administration certification of the system developed by the air navigation service provider and aerospace manufacturer.
Honeywell and Airservices formed an alliance in 2006 to develop and commercialise satellite-based landing systems. The ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) has been installed at Sydney airport on a trial basis since November 2006. In addition, the partners were developing a ground-based regional augmentation system for regional airports, but ceased development of that last year after technical issues with its coverage meant it was not economically viable.
Sydney airport is set to receive the first certificated system, with installation to be completed by the end of the year and Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval expected in 2010. Installations at Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth will follow in a five-year roll-out programme, says Airservices.
GBAS improves the accuracy of aircraft positioning and can reliably guide aircraft along a predictable, precise landing path by correcting GPS navigation errors and transmitting data directly to an aircraft's flight management system, says Jason Harfield, Airservices' general manager air traffic control.
GBAS promises major improvements in airport safety, efficiency and capacity and is set to be a critical feature of Australia's future satellite-based air navigation system.
Qantas aircraft have made more than 2,000 GBAS approaches since the start of the Sydney trial, with pilots consistently reporting precise and smooth guidance for approach and landing.
"Airservices is now working with domestic and international airlines to encourage take-up of GBAS avionics and to work co-operatively on new, efficient GBAS procedures," says Harfield.
Source: Flight International
