Satellite-based technology, supported by constellations such as Galileo, provides approach guidance without the need for ground-based navigational aids, increasing accessibility and safety at many airports. An aircraft can fly instrument approaches similar to a conventional instrument landing system (ILS) - down to a 200ft decision height. A localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approach uses global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals augmented by the European geostationary navigation overlay service (EGNOS), the threesatellite constellation that improves the precision of GNSS in the European area and was certified for safety of life (SoL) service in 2011.
LPV procedures do not require any new equipment at the airport which makes them an ideal low-cost alternative to increase access to secondary airports that may not be ILS-equipped on all runways. For ILS-equipped runways, the new approach design may be useful either to shorten the flightpath for certain traffic flows or simply to overlay the existing ILS and be used as a fall-back procedure in case of airborne or ground ILS equipment malfunction. SESAR validation activities demonstrated that LPV approaches can be safely integrated into the operational environment. The exercises showed that the implementation of LPV procedures allowed aircraft coming from a downwind inbound route saved track miles compared to the traditional ILS approach.
Moreover, in low traffic conditions controllers were able to safely integrate LPV aircraft flying short downwind approaches with ILS aircraft flying longer downwind approaches while allowing the LPV aircraft to execute the LPV descent profile. Using satellitebased technology also means avoiding costs associated with airport closure or flight diversions due to bad weather conditions. The exercises provided valuable lessons learnt for the design of LPV procedures, such as the importance of defining and using standard phraseology.
The solution is available for industrialisation and is implemented in the Czech Republic.
SJU references: #103/Release 1
Benefits
- Improved access to airports in all weather conditions, without the need to install ground equipment
- Improved descent profile and reduced track miles, resulting in reduced fuel burn
- Reduced noise footprint
- Improved safety
Datapack