Ground Base Augmentation System Reaction Paper

GBAS stands for Ground-Based Augmentation System is a system that

provides differential corrections and integrity monitoring of Global Navigation Satellite

Systems or GNSS. GBAS provides navigation and precision approach service in the

vicinity of the host airport at approximately 23 nautical mile radius, broadcasting its

differential correction message via a very high frequency (VHF) radio data link from a

ground-based transmitter. GBAS yields the extremely high accuracy, availability, and

integrity necessary for Category I, and eventually Category II, and III precision

approaches. GBAS demonstrated accuracy is less than one meter in both the horizontal

and vertical axis.

In the past, the FAA referred to GBAS as the Local Area Augmentation System

(LAAS). Current GBAS systems approved by the FAA only monitor and augment the

Global Positioning System (GPS) L1 C/A broadcast.

A Category 1 (CAT 1) GBAS system is available and in use in the National

Airspace System. While the FAA or the Federal Aviation Administration has indefinitely
delayed plans for federal GBAS acquisition, the system can be purchased by airports

and installed as a Non-Federal navigation aid. The Honeywell International Satellite

Landing System (SLS) 4000 series (SLS-4000) received System Design Approval

(SDA) from the FAA on September 3, 2009, with a follow-on approval of an enhanced

SLS-4000 (SLS-4000 Block 1) in September 2012. The Port Authority of New York/New

Jersey (PANYNJ) purchased and operates the first public use system to receive FAA

operational approval for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Houston Airport

System (HAS) owns and operates the second GBAS to receive FAA operational

approval for Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The GBAS systems

at both EWR and IAH are currently being used by United Airlines with Boeing 737 (B-

737) and Boeing 787 (B-787) aircraft. The Boeing Company has a private use GBAS

installed and approved at its research and development (R&D) facility at Moses Lake

Airport (MWH) in Washington State and another private use GBAS installed in

Charleston, S.C. (CHS) to support B-787 customer acceptance flights at the Charleston

assembly plant.

The FAA GBAS program is currently conducting an (R&D) and prototyping effort

to reduce the technical risk and validate new requirements associated with meeting the

GBAS approach service type D (GAST-D) service which will be capable of supporting

approaches to Category III (CAT-III) minima. The requirements validation effort supports

the acceptance of national and international standards for GAST-D. This effort will

support approval of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and

Recommended Practices (SARPs) and RTCA Minimum Operational Performance

Standards (MOPS).
 Additionally, the FAA is working towards International GBAS implementation and

interoperability by sharing technical expertise, operational experience and approval

processes via the International GBAS Working Group (IGWG). The FAA and the

European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) co-chair the IGWG.

Representatives from 16 countries attended the last IGWG meeting hosted by Boeing in

Everett, Washington, near the assembly plant for B-747 and B-787 aircraft.

Organizations, airlines and countries such as Airservices Australia, DECEA (Brazil),

Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) (Germany), AENA (Spain), Japan Civil Aviation Bureau,

NATS (United Kingdom), DHMI (Turkey), Aerocivil (Colombia), Skyguide (Switzerland),

GACA (Saudi Arabia), KARI (South Korea), Qantas, Japan Air Lines, United Airlines,

and All Nippon Airways participated. Many of these countries and organizations have

installed either operational or prototype GBAS systems and are involved in technical

and operational evaluation activities. Coordination of GBAS participants improves the

standardization, certification and use of GBAS throughout the world.

Based on international press announcements, the number of approved GBAS

stations will continue to increase. A Honeywell press release states that an SLS-4000 is

installed at 14 airports. Outside of the US, the GBAS station in Bremen, Germany also

has operational approval to CAT-I minima. Stations located in Sydney, Australia and

Malaga, Spain are installed and expected to receive operational approval soon. New

GBAS stations have been announced for Frankfurt (Germany), Zurich (Switzerland),

Chennai (India) and the Island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic.