Increasing Focus On Environmentally Responsible Air Traffic
Management Services
GE Aviation said Monday that it has acquired Naverus, a
privately owned, Washington-based supplier of advanced
Performance-based Navigation (PBN) services, including Required
Navigation Performance (RNP) procedure development, PBN procedure
maintenance, operations support and consulting for airlines, air
navigation service providers and airports.
“GE is committed to delivering solutions that help our
customers operate aircraft more efficiently, with reduced
environmental impact,” said Lorraine Bolsinger, president
& CEO, GE Aviation Systems. “The acquisition of Naverus
brings some of the best PBN technology to GE Aviation’s
Systems business, further expanding our commitment to deliver
environmental results for our customers. We are delighted that
Naverus is joining our team today.”
Naverus’ RNP technology, combined with GE’s existing
suite of avionics and flight management systems, enables GE to
better address customers’ needs for air traffic management
service solutions.
Naverus’ RNP technology can help airlines reduce flight
time, carbon emissions and community noise on both approach and
departure. RNP technology is fundamental to the transition from
existing ground-based, voice-controlled air traffic management to
time- and space-based digital systems. This transition represents
the future of air traffic management and is a key focus of the FAA
“NextGen” and Eurocontrol “SESAR”
initiatives.
“This is great news for Naverus and our
customers,” said Naverus CEO Steve Forte. “Customers
will continue to benefit from the same expertise and service for
which Naverus is known, while the strength of GE provides a
platform for future innovation and growth.”
RNP procedures are one of few services in the aerospace industry
that simultaneously improve fuel efficiency, aircraft emissions,
community noise, system capacity, and airline productivity. By
working with airline partners and government officials around the
world, GE is committed to improving air traffic management through
its ecomagination effort.
“In a continued challenging economic climate, GE is able
to provide air traffic management solutions that promote greater
asset utilization, reduced fuel burn and better use of airport
infrastructure,” continued Bolsinger.
The world's first RNP procedures were flown in southeast Alaska
in 1996. In February 2003, Alaska Airlines pilots Steve Fulton, Hal
Andersen, and entrepreneur Dan Gerrity, founded Naverus to provide
RNP and other PBN solutions to a broader constituency. Since then,
Naverus has successfully developed and deployed hundreds of RNP
procedures worldwide. GE and Naverus have collaborated in the past,
providing PBN solutions using GE’s advanced flight management
systems.