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Langen, 6 September 2007 First satellite-based precision approach procedure Bremen Airport is leading the way Bremen Airport is the first European airport to be equipped with the satellite-based precision landing system GBAS (Ground Based Augmentation System). At noon of 5 September, the first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operated by TUIfly, landed with the aid of the new system. TUIfly, Boeing and DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH held a joint press conference on 5 September to announce the start of the GBAS trial phase at Bremen Airport. Until now, precision approaches always required a conventional instrument landing system, which is now to be replaced by satellite navigation. At present, the accuracy of satellite navigation (GPS – global positioning system) is ± 20 metres. This is not sufficient for landings in low visibility conditions. The four receivers of the GBAS ground station analyse the signals broadcast by satellites and calculate differential corrections which are then transmitted to the landing aircraft. On board the aircraft, they are used to calculate the exact position and precisely guide the aircraft to the touchdown point. Landings which are solely based on satellite navigation are not permitted at present. For this reason, aircraft are also guided by conventional systems. The trial phase, which has now started in Bremen, will be the basis for the certification of GBAS. The GBAS ground station was manufactured by Honeywell and is operated by DFS. Boeing has fitted the TUIfly aircraft with onboard equipment developed by Rockwell-Collins. The project is funded by the 3rd Aviation Research Programme launched by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. In the long term, DFS expects to realise considerable cost savings by replacing the currently used instrument landing system. While each runway and each landing direction requires a separate ILS, one GBAS ground station will normally suffice. Moreover, the mandatory maintenance and flight inspection activities for instrument landing systems involve substantial costs. The system should also be of great interest to operators of smaller airports currently offering only non-precision approach procedures, if any. For further information, please call: +49 (0)6103 707-4160 DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH is a State-owned company under private law and has 5,200 employees. DFS ensures the safe and punctual handling of flights. Staff coordinate around 10,000 aircraft movements in German airspace every day, and more than three million movements every year. With this large number of flights, Germany has the highest traffic volume in Europe. DFS operates control centres in Langen, Bremen, Karlsruhe and Munich. In addition, DFS is represented in the Eurocontrol Centre in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and in the control towers of the 16 international German airports. DFS provides training and consultancy services around the world and develops and sells air traffic control, surveillance and navigation systems. The company's portfolio also comprises flight-relevant data, aeronautical publications and aeronautical information services. DFS has the following business units: Control Centre, Tower, Aeronautical Solutions and Aeronautical Information Management.
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