New System Approved Satellite Navigation Landings

Norway will receive GPS approach systems at 24 airports after a WIDERØE Dash 8 proved a satellite based landing approach system works.

The Norwegian airline Dash 8-100 was the first to fly a certified global navigation satellite system (GNSS) precision approach last month, according to Flight International.

The turbo-prop was equipped with Universal Avionics' GLS-1250 GNSS twin receivers-processors which were incorporated with the aircraft's flight management system.

The airliner made history when it flew its approach to Runway 04 at Bronnoysand. The Global Positioning System approach which is also known as a SCAT-1 or special category 1 had been approved by Avinor, Norway’s air traffic, and air navigation service provider, and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

SCAT-1 will be installed where terrain or steep glide slopes make the use and installation of instrument landing systems impossible, according to Steiner Hamar, with Avinor’s SCAT-1 program.

Airport-located ground stations provides signal corrections and assures the aircraft system via a VHF data link engineered by Norway-based Park Instruments.

What makes this system different are that the SCAT-1 approaches are based on a local area differential GNSS augmentation that allows a descent to a Category 1, go--no go--decision height, according to Avinor officials.

The ground-based augmentation system information works provided other requirements like runway and approach lighting are also met.

FMI: www.wideroe.no/index.asp