DFS presents new air navigation systems (11 March 2008)


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Langen, 11 March 2008

DFS presents new air navigation systems

During a press conference at the ATC Global in Amsterdam, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung presented two new systems – a satellite-based approach system called GBAS (Ground Based Augmentation System), and the 4D Planner, an arrival manager that optimises the approach sequence at airports.

The GPS signal still has an inaccuracy of plus/minus ten metres. But with the GBAS ground station, the signal is augmented to ensure that precision landings may now be performed by means of satellite navigation. Since September 2007, a Boeing 737 of the airline TUIfly has been regularly using the Bremen ground station in visual meteorological conditions. A few days ago, the next step was taken, i.e. using the station in instrument meteorological conditions. DFS hopes that the ground station will be certified within the course of this year. It would be the first certified GBAS station in the world.

The 4D Planner optimises the approach sequence at busy airports like Frankfurt or Munich and thus expedites the traffic flow. The 4D Planner registers all arriving aircraft within a range of 150 kilometres around the airport. It then continuously calculates the remaining flight time on the basis of different parameters, such as speed, descent rate and traffic volume, and thus defines an optimal approach sequence.

Die 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.


15/01/2009	PRINT