Company's LPV solution Now Available To Challenger 604 Operators

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted certification for Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV) functionality on the Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins' upgraded Flight Management System (FMS) and GPS-4000S global positioning system WAAS receiver.

Rockwell says this was "a significant effort" jointly funded by the FAA Air Traffic Organization's Technical Operations (Aviation System Standards and Navigation Services) and Rockwell Collins for the FAA's NextGen Air Traffic System, which will allow more aircraft to utilize existing airspace while increasing safety.

The aircraft and crews to support the significant flight testing requirements were supplied by the FAA's Aviation System Standards Division. 

"Our work with the FAA to certify a WAAS LPV solution featuring our enhanced FMS and GPS-4000S marks an important step forward in helping more aircraft operators equip their aircraft for near-precision approaches at airports not equipped with ILS," said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins. "This solution, which fully integrates the GPS-4000S with the LPV capable FMS in Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 systems offers simple and intuitive operation."

The same LPV solution for the FAA's aircraft is now available to all Challenger 604 operators through Rockwell Collins' dealers.

WAAS improves the availability and integrity of GPS navigation, enabling suitably equipped FMS to provide horizontal and vertical navigation to category I equivalent minimums for all users at all locations within the service area, without requiring airport-based transmitters or other supporting functionality. Additionally, WAAS provides service for all classes of aircraft in all flight operations in its coverage, including en-route navigation, airport departures and airport arrivals. This includes CAT I equivalent approaches with minimums as low as 200 feet at locations throughout the US National Airspace System (WAAS).

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com