Rockwell Collins’s flight management system (FMS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver enabled the first successful demonstration of advanced arrival and departure flight operations for the EU’s new airspace enhancement project.
Known as FilGAPP (filling the gap in GNSS advanced procedures and operations), the programme aims to develop efficient and accurate methods of navigating airspace using satellite-based navigation and advanced FMS functions.
Claude Alber, Rockwell Collins’ vice-president and managing director, Europe, the Middle East and Africa says: “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.”
The recent demonstration was performed in Germany by a Hawker 750 equipped with Rockwell Collins FMS/GNSS. The demonstration was the first time a high-precision, high-integrity missed approach/departure had been performed in Europe.
The flights also validated technical and operational independence from the ATC systems of two nearby airports, assuring increased operational capacity for each airport.
Similar advanced departure/arrival demonstrations as part of project FilGAPP were performed earlier in the year with Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum. The trials were carried out with Bombardier CRJ1000s equipped with Rockwell Collins systems.
The demonstrations took advantage of the radius-to-fix functionality connected to European geostationary navigation overlay service-enabled localiser performance with vertical guidance approaches.
FilGAPP is a project of the European Commission’s seventh framework programme, managed by the European GNSS Agency and co-ordinated by Spanish transport consultancy INECO, with industry and national air navigation service provider partners.
Source: Flight Daily News
