VOLUME 50 Winter 2014

The SatNav News is produced by the http://gps.faa.gov Navigation Programs AJM-32 branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This newsletter provides informa- NextGen Ain’t at ’s Airport tion on the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Wide Area Augmentation January 2014 — What do the names The satellite-based approach System (WAAS) and the Ground Based Woodstock, Lucy and Pigpen bring “provides a great backup (to the Augmentation System (GBAS). to mind? For pilots flying into Charles ILS) and is another means for us M. Schulz — Sonoma County Airport, to get our passengers into airports those are the waypoints that guide we otherwise could not,” said Steve Inside ... them along the NextGen approach Castellano, a Horizon Air pilot to runway 32. The airport, named who focuses on air traffic control 1 NextGen Ain’t Peanuts at Snoopy’s Airport Source: sonomacountyairport.org for the famed Peanuts cartoonist issues. Horizon Air, whose entire who lived nearby, sports Snoopy aircraft fleet is equipped to fly LPV 2 ExpressJet WAAS Project dressed as a World War I flying ace approaches, uses the NextGen Advances on its logo. approach into Charles M. Schulz on a regular basis in all sorts of 2 WAAS Dual Frequency Operations Segment 1 Nestled in the heart of Northern weather conditions. California Wine Country, the airport 2 WAAS and ADS-B is surrounded by tall mountains. Pilots of the small, general When the fog rolls in from the Pacific aviation aircraft that frequently fly 3 GBAS Update Ocean, as it often does mornings and into Charles M. Schulz are also 4 What’s New on the Web evenings, it shrouds the view of the benefiting from the LPV approach. runway. While this kind of weather Jim McCord, a general aviation 4 Satellite Navigation is perfect for growing grapes, it’s pilot and member of the FAA Safety Approach Procedures not an ideal situation when landing Team, said the NextGen approach Update aircraft. Fortunately, the FAA has makes it much easier to keep track taken a cue from and of the aircraft’s exact position. This provided the airport with a safety is especially important as the terrain blanket; the NextGen procedure within a few miles of the airport enables pilots of equipped aircraft rises as high as 4,600 feet above the to land even when the approach to airport’s elevation. the runway is covered in fog. McCord prefers the NextGen Pilots need a clear view of the runway procedure to the ILS approach to land. When fog obscures the view, also because it is simpler to fly. they have to rely on instruments in As a certificated flight instructor, the cockpit, which pick up a signal McCord trains student pilots to Tell Us Your WAAS from navigation equipment on the fly the NextGen procedure, which Story ground at the airport. At Charles M. is easily programmed into the Schulz, there is only one Instrument aircraft’s navigation system. We’re collecting testimonials Landing System (ILS). about the benefits of Wide Area The FAA is in the process of adding Augmentation System (WAAS) But the NextGen approach relies an LPV approach to the second navigation from users. If you on GPS and uses a technology that of the two runways at Charles M. are a pilot, passenger, airport boosts the accuracy of GPS satellite Schulz. This is especially important manager, airline employee, or are involved in aviation in signals so pilots know, within a few as the main runway, and the only any capacity - whether you feet, their exact position in space. runway with an ILS, will be closed fly fixed-wing or vertical flight Flying the procedure, known as for construction for several months aircraft - we want to hear from Localizer Performance with Vertical next year and the ILS will be out of you! Please send your stories Guidance (LPV), pilots descend to service. and contact information to an altitude of 455 feet using their - Reprint from the FAA NextGen Mary Ann Davis at onboard instruments before they Performance Snapshots (NPS) [email protected] website at http://www.faa.gov/ have to see the runway to land at nextgen/snapshots/ Charles M. Schulz. stories/?slide=30

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1 will also include the transition of Contractor Depot Logistics Support (CDLS) to the FAA during year 3 of the DFO Segment 1 contract. DFO Segment 1 is planned to take place over 5 years with a potential for two option years. DFO Segment 2 will commence at the completion of DFO Segment 1 and will introduce the ExpressJet WAAS Project domestic and international flight WAAS Dual Frequency User (DFU) Advances demonstrations of GNSS WAAS Service. Establishing a WAAS Dual A Government Industry Partnership navigation between city pairs in Frequency User Service is contingent (GIP) between the Federal Aviation the US, Canada, and Mexico using upon achieving a Final Operations Administration (FAA) and ExpressJet Canadian Regional Jet (CRJ) aircraft Capability (FOC) of the GPS L5 of Atlanta, Georgia will move forward (CRJ-700s/900s) equipped with WAAS modernized satellites. WAAS DFU with the approval on November 18, avionics. The project also intends to: service is expected to launch circa 2023. 2013 of a Bombardier CRJ-700/900 • Expand current WAAS - Ed Sigler, FAA AJM-321/NAVTAC Service Bulletin for Wide Area equipage to include large CRJ Augmentation System / Localizer fleet WAAS and ADS-B Performance with Vertical guidance • Assist in the certification of We often receive questions regarding (WAAS/LPV) procedures. LPV approaches at airports in the relationship between Wide Area Mexico serviced by ExpressJet Augmentation System (WAAS) and ExpressJet is the world’s largest Airlines Automatic Dependent Surveillance- regional airline with 9,000 aviation • Perform flight demonstrations of Broadcast (ADS-B). What they have professionals, an average of 2,200 international Q routes in common is the important role they daily flights and an all-jet fleet of • Determine environmental and each play in the FAA’s NextGen plans. more than 400 aircraft. ExpressJet safety issues and solutions in Both provide important benefits and operates as American Eagle, Delta international cooperative efforts provide a foundation for the future Connection, and United Express to • Identify issues of WAAS National Airspace System. The serve more than 188 airports in the integration into the NAS differences reside in the specific role U.S., Bahamas, Canada and Mexico. and NextGen, and WAAS that each plays and the services they The first goal of the FAA/ExpressJet interoperability issues in an provide. WAAS is a navigation system project was to facilitate the approval international theater which provides a user more accurate and installation of a Bombardier CRJ- - Scott Speed, Kevin Wood and Dave Kerr, FAA and reliable positioning than GPS 700/900 Service Bulletin for WAAS/ AJM-321/NAVTAC alone. ADS-B is a surveillance system LPV. ExpressJet will begin upgrading that uses inputs from navigation the four (4) CRJ-900s in December WAAS Dual Frequency systems, such as GPS and WAAS to 2013 and expects completion by Operations Segment 1 determine an aircraft’s position then January 2014. Once the planes are The WAAS Program Office has been broadcasts that position so that other equipped with Rockwell/Collins working over the last quarter to finalize aircraft and Air Traffic Control (ATC) WAAS avionics, ExpressJet will the Dual Frequency Operations (DFO) know this position of these aircraft conduct flight operations and data Segment 1 Screening Information as well. collection activities on the operational Request (SIR). The SIR was released benefits from WAAS equipped in the beginning of January. The One may ask, do I need GPS or WAAS commercial aircraft operating in the award date is expected to be within for ADS-B since ADS-B does require U.S. National Airspace System (NAS), FY14. DFO Segment 1 will include a precise positioning source. GPS Canada, and Mexico airspace for the upgrade of the existing WAAS supports the basic requirements Localizer Performance with Vertical Reference Receiver (G-II) with the associated with ADS-B. WAAS is not guidance (LPV) approaches and en G-III. This receiver will support the required for the ADS-B mandate, but route flight operations. reception and processing of the you still may want it. To gain the full new GPS L5 signal. In addition, the capability of ADS-B, a system that is The FAA/ExpressJet Project provides WAAS terrestrial communications more precise than GPS is needed. a great opportunity for WAAS to network will be upgraded to support WAAS meets the most demanding become part of the navigation the processing and transmission of ADS-B requirements. services available to the ExpressJet additional data over the network. - Mary Ann Davis, FAA AJM-321/NAVTAC fleet. This contract will also support the For more questions and answers about WAAS, please sustainment of the WAAS GEO visit our WAAS FAQs web page. Additional questions The scope of the FAA/ExpressJet constellation by integrating up to can also be submitted through the link on the FAQs project includes conducting U.S. two new GEO satellites. Segment main page.

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GBAS Update Category I (CAT I) Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) has been operational for public use at Newark Liberty International airport (EWR) since September 2012 and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas beginning in April 2013.

The Houston and Newark GBAS installations are part of a Government Industry Project (GIP) with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace and the respective airport authorities for Newark and Houston. The projects are intended to establish operational experience with an FAA approved non-Federal (non-Fed) GBAS system and the user community (air traffic equipment in B787 and B747-8 aircraft. own GBAS SLS-4000 at Moses Lake, control, airports and airlines). They AIRBUS implemented GBAS as Washington and Charleston, South are owned and operated by the optional equipment in the A320 and Carolina as a private system for the respective airport authorities. The A380 and plans to certify A330/340 and sole use of Boeing to certify Boeing operational experience gained from A350 with GBAS capability. Embraer aircraft and aircrews. Boeing and the these non-Fed CAT I systems will and Bombardier are considering FAA have signed a Memorandum of facilitate the development of Category GBAS avionics equipage for their Understanding (MOU) to collaborate III (CAT III) GBAS systems. next generation aircraft. on airborne GBAS advancements. Boeing plans to use the Moses Lake The systems at Newark and Houston The goal of the FAA GBAS research system for validation and testing of now provide a GBAS city pair for use and development effort over the GBAS CAT II/III avionics and aircraft by United Airlines and increased next few years is to produce an interfaces. The FAA is working with operational experience with the operationally approved CAT III Boeing to gain insight into their technology. As of November 2013, system. The strategy is to evolve the CAT III aircraft approval strategy United Airlines has over 90 GBAS architecture developed and approved and leverage their CAT III efforts for equipped aircraft (Boeing 737/Boeing for a single frequency GBAS CAT-I FAA validation work. Boeing plans 787) capable of utilizing the GBAS service and improve this architecture on GBAS CAT III flight test with the Landing System (GLS) approaches to provide CAT II/III service. , An ICAO Boeing eco-Demonstrator in early at IAH and EWR. United Airlines Navigation Systems Panel baselined 2014. aircrews have logged over 240 GBAS standards for GBAS GAST-D, a service approaches at Newark and Houston. type equivalent to ILS CAT III, in a The FAA GBAS team continues to work In addition to United Aircrews gaining proposed amendment to the Annex with the international community on valuable experience with the existing 10 Standards and Recommended the implementation and development CAT I GBAS, United (with assistance Practices (SARPS). Current FAA of GBAS through the International from Boeing) has begun discussions GAST-D efforts focus on reducing GBAS Working Group (IGWG). The with the FAA aircraft certification technical risk through prototyping IGWG is co-chaired by FAA and office to pursue a GBAS Autoland and requirements validation. EUROCONTROL and serves as capability for their B737 fleet followed This approach is consistent with the forum for international GBAS by possible approval of CAT II GBAS international GBAS efforts. An FAA- technical and operational information operations using current GBAS CAT I owned SLS-4000 installed in Atlantic exchange, coordination of GBAS ground systems and avionics. City International Airport (ACY) will activities, and establishment of continue to be used as an interim joint projects, analysis tools, and Both major Original Equipment platform to develop and validate documents for GBAS development Manufacturers (OEMs), Boeing and Category III requirements under this and implementation. Besides the Airbus, provide GBAS capability in project. FAA and EUROCONTROL, IGWG their fleets. GBAS is available as an members include international option in B737 aircraft and standard The Boeing Company installed their service providers (such as Australia,

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What’s New on the Web! Satellite Navigation Where can you find FAA Satellite Approach Procedures Navigation Program information Update in between editions of the SATNAV The Satellite-based Approach News? Please visit our website - Procedures table reflects the http://gps.faa.gov. Recently, we continuing growth of all types of satellite have updated WAAS Frequently navigation approach procedures. Asked Questions; added the latest For comparison purposes, we also WAAS Quarterly Status Report; and include a table noting the recent posted updated numbers on WAAS inventory of Instrument Approach approach procedure development. Procedures Based on Conventional Also, on our website, you can find NAVAIDs. information about how GPS, WAAS, and the Ground Based Augmentation More detailed information about System (GBAS) work; an archive of satellite based instrument approach past SATNAV News editions; and fact procedures, please visit our sheets. We are always looking for GPS/WAAS Approach Procedures ways to improve the website and love page at http://www.faa.gov/about/ your suggestions, so please feel free office_org/ headquarters_offices/ato/ to send them to MaryAnn.CTR.Davis@ service_units/techops/navservices/ faa.gov. In the meantime, we continue gnss/ approaches/index.cfm) Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, to make updates to existing pages. - Mary Ann Davis, FAA AJM-321/NAVTAC Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Russia, and Korea), European and U.S avionics industry, airline representatives, Boeing and Airbus. Fourteen nations presently have GBAS related activities in one form or another from concept development and research prototype activities to actual implementation, some with airline GBAS operations under revenue. The last IGWG was hosted by the FAA and Boeing in Everett, WA on June 4 -7, 2013 with over 80 participants.

With a new year upon us, the GBAS office remains hopeful that additional U.S. and foreign carriers will add GBAS to their operational capability as domestic and foreign airports add GBAS to their navigational aid offerings. - Dieter Guenter, FAA AJM-321/NAVTAC

More information is available at https://www.faa.gov/ air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/procedures/ifp_inven- tory_summary/

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