PUERTO RICO-based American Eagle carrier Executive Airlines is equipping its ten ATR 42s and 72s with global-positioning systems (GPS) to allow cost-saving direct routing.
Executive has selected Universal Avionics' UNS-1M GPS-based navigation-management system for its aircraft.
The airline's decision follows a six-month proof-of-concept programme, which demonstrated reductions in flight times, with GPS allowing the carrier to fly more direct routes.
GPS also proved more dependable than Caribbean ground-based navigation aids, which suffer outages in the hurricane season, says vice-president, flight operations, Jose Machado.
The UNS-1M has been interfaced with the ATR 42/72's electronic flight-instrument system, providing the crew with a moving-map display of the route. The unit, is also interfaced with the aircraft's auto-pilot and generates pseudo-instrument-landing-system signals, enabling the crew to fly coupled non-precision GPS approaches, Universal says.
Source: Flight International
