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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 11/96 SATNAV SYMPOSIUM SEES BRIGHT FUTURE FOR GPS by Wolfdietrich Hoeveler Satellite-based navigation is on the advance. More than 200 experts participated in the SatNav symposium, which was organized by the German Air Navigation Services (DFS) and the Munich Airport GmbH at the end of September. The symposium participants agreed: Satellite navigation is revolutionizing the world air traffic. The airlines in particular want to be able to use the advantages of a satellite-based navigation system to the full extent. The symposium made clear that DFS and Lufthansa want to replace conventional systems and procedures and acquire new air traffic control concepts up to the so called "Free Flight" concept which is to allow free routings and a partial flight guidance control from the cockpit. Following a gradual evaluation of differential GPS technology, Peter Waldinger, Managing Director Operational Systems of DFS, sees a possibility to certify GPS by the end of 1998 as a primary means of navigation. In a third phase, the expensive ground-based equipment, such as ILS and MLS, which is basically already written off, could be omitted. According to Andreas Kaden, Vice President Lufthansa Technical Operations, all of Lufthansa's new aircraft are already being equipped with GPS receivers. The German carrier is pushing for an expeditious operational certification of GPS receivers as a primary means of navigation. But Lufthansa and DFS are disappointed by the European aviation authorities JAA. According to the statements of JAA's General Secretary, Klaus Koplin, JAA has failed in that respect. The working committee could only agree on recommendations instead of guidelines concerning the certification of SatNav equipment. More positive news was reported from the different GPS landing trials which are being currently conducted at Munich, Lugano, and some other European airports. Their focus is on evaluating the replacement of conventional approach aids, such as ILS and the NDB, with differential GPS (DGPS). While the position data received through the civil code of the military NAVSTAR satellites, which are controlled by the Pentagon, may only have an accuracy of 100 m, DGPS makes this position data more precise, allowing precision instrument approaches. However, Europe wants more. The program EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) was started as an initiative of the European Union (EU) together with Eurocontrol and the European Space Agency (ESA). EGNOS is a supplementary system which is to make GPS data more exact and suitable for precision landings. Still, the USA is years ahead of Europe. While the EU is still striving for a European standpoint, the bureaucracy in Brussels seems to suffocate from the regulation of legal matters. The German government is not getting beyond the formulation of standpoints and questionnaires either. This could develop into a major disadvantage for the European airlines and users. Once all procedures and systems are adopted to the American GPS, it is likely that the bill will follow from Washington. Although President Clinton has assured a continuation of the civil use of GPS without direct costs in March of 1996 and has promised to eliminate the artificial inaccuracy of the civil code in ten years, DFS head Dieter Kaden sees only few possibilities for non-Americans to influence the US politics concerning GPS. According to Dieter Kaden, the time lead of the USA is very large: "We think the implementation of the American Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is right, but, due to European federalistic problems, see only chances for a later coupling of regional systems in Germany and Europe." The imbalance between the USA and Europe is further amplified since the FAA is meanwhile pursuing a national plan to implement WAAS. This system is designed to solve the existing problems of GPS concerning the availability of the GPS satellites beginning in 2001, while at the same time making the GPS signals over the US continent more accurate, says Richard P. Arnold from the Federal Aviation Administration. The development contract with Hughes in the amount $ 500 million became binding in October. Just based on WAAS, the USA plans to omit ground-based navigation aids, such as ILS, VOR, DME, and NDB, beginning in 2006. While the European governments are still arguing, the number of GPS receivers sold continues to grow rapidly, leaving only one question: Who will unite Europe? From page 18 of FLUG REVUE 11/96 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 11/96 Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated October 20, 1996