Guy Norris/SANTIAGO
Raytheon and Lockheed Martin's new Synchronetics company have begun what promises to be a fiercely competitive battle to provide Latin America with satellite-based en route navigation and precision approach capabilities (Flight International, 28 March-3 April).
Both companies stress the low-cost appeal of the solution to the airlines, aviation authorities and airports throughout the cash-strapped region, which has a poorly developed air navigation and traffic management infrastructure compared to the USA.
Raytheon Systems is conducting initial "exploratory" talks with authorities in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, says business development manager, Wayne Buser. "It makes economic sense for them to look at a regional concept," he says, adding that the outline plan would be for the region's nations to share the cost of developing such a system. "We have also undertaken an initiative to form a company to offer a fee-for-service for South America," he says. Raytheon hopes to achieve a region-wide consensus by the end of the year.
The company's concept builds on its pioneering work in Chile, which began in 1998 with the installation of two satellite navigation testbed reference stations to support evaluation of the wide area augmentation system (WAAS).
The reference stations were the first of their kind installed in South America and provided global positioning system augmentation data for en route navigation.
The company's analysis suggests six reference stations might be sufficient for the region, two of which would be back-up units. Its overall strategy is to initially support the development of WAAS, followed by a local area augmentation system (LAAS) offering Cat II precision approach capability to airports around the region.
Synchronetics' approach is the other way around, with LAAS planned first, from 2001, followed by WAAS (or regional positioning system, as Lockheed Martin calls it) by 2003. "We think we have a better architecture than Raytheon, which wants to go with WAAS first," says Dan Brophy, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management director of navigation services. "LAAS should be first because you don't need a satellite, and you can get an early revenue stream going."
The Synchronetics concept is tied to the development of WAAS in North America. To spread the cost it plans to offer the US Federal Aviation Administration leased access to the same satellites. Brophy says: "The real challenge is getting LAAS online. The politics will be hard, which is why we are working with ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organisation]." The project, including at least three satellites, is expected to cost around $1 billion. "We will be looking for industrial and financial partners in South America," says Brophy.
Source: Flight International
