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Introduction of new electronic systems for aviation

Thor Breien, Dr. Ing

Park Air Systems AS

Presented by

Linda Lavik

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Subjects to be discussed

• Navigation Systems in use for air traffic• Why need for new systems• Factors against transition from ground

based to satellite based systems• The Authorities, ATC / airport operators,

system suppliers, and airlines roles in the implementation process

• Experiences from SCAT-I

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E-navigation in aviation

All professional air navigation is based on electronic systems due to the visibility limitations

IFR corresponds to E-navigation for maritime– IFR: Instrument Flight Rules– VFR: Visual Flight Rules

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Navigation Systems in useHistory of air navigation

• Aviation started in 1903

• From 1919 bonfires and artificial lights, in addition to landmarks and maps, were used to help pilots find their way

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Navigation Systems in use Early Landing Aid and Landing field light

               

                                         

                         

                  

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Navigation Systems in use History of air radio navigation

• 1920’s: Started use of radio navigation aids (NAVAIDS)

• In 1947 ICAO was founded as a specialized aviation UN agency and NAVAIDS international standardized. Several systems were then taken in use:

– CONSOL -DME (distance)

– LORAN -ILS (landing)

– VOR (bearing) -NDB (bearing/position)

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Navigation Systems in use Typical today's Navigation and

Landing aids

                                                                      

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Why need for new NAVAIDS?• Technology evolution

– The availability of GPS and extended use of computers in flight management systems

• Congestions in airspace– Need to increase capacity by moving from today's route network to Free

Flight navigation (Single European Sky)

• Cost reductions– Need for more cost-effective use of aircraft by shorter stopovers and less

fuel consumption– Lower Navigation fees; reduction of redundant NAVAIDS

• Increased safety– Introduction of NAVAIDS for more areas and airports will increase safety

and potential for fewer accidents

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Factors against transition from ground based to satellite based systems

• For most of the users, no operational need for transition to a new system

• Large cost for re-certification

• Transition period with costly overlapping systems

• No incentives from ANSP / authorities

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Why new NAVAIDS? Potential cost savings and

environmental benefits with GPS-based systems

Example Curved Approach withContinuous Descent

© 2002 The MITRE Corporation. All RightsReserved.

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Why not just use satellite systems...

..and switch off the expensive ground infrastructure??

There are several obstacles:

• All aircraft must have installed new avionics

• International consensus on the transition required

• Political and legal aspects to be clarified

• Satellite systems must have proved their performance

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Political and legal aspects to be clarified

• Who is responsible for any accidents?

• Who controls the signal availability?– Need for more systems

than GPS

• Reduced accessibility, who takes the delay / cancellation bill?

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International coordination for introduction of new systems

• National and international Radio Navigation Plans are policy documents for the future use of existing and new navigation aids

• All plans agree on the main items:– Navigation and landing will be based on a mixture of

ground and satellite systems– Evolutionary introduction of satellite systems – Some ground based systems will be gradually

withdrawn– Maintain complementary ground systems until satellite

systems have received full acceptance

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Who participate in the the NAVAIDS transition process?

• Authorities

• ATC / airport operators (Air Navigation Service Providers)

• System suppliers

• Airlines

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The Authorities role

• ICAO (parallel to IMO) – establish the international agreed standards and set the

protection dates

• EUROCONTROL– develops, coordinates and plans for implementation of pan-

European air traffic management strategies

• Civil Aviation Authority– Establish national regulations– Issue certificates to put new systems into operations– Inspections of service providers, industry and airlines

according to JAA/EU regulations

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The Air Navigation Service Providers’ role

• Clarify service needs based on input from airlines

• Define system requirements

• Collect/produce documentation for approval

• Acquire and put into operations

• Maintain the systems

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The Airlines’ role

• Identify the needs for more cost-effective / safer navigation

• Define the avionics concept

• Collect/Produce documentation for certification

• Install the avionics in new aircraft, retrofit for existing aircraft

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The system suppliers’ role

• Specify the design methodology, the system equipment functionality and performance

• Produce product documentation and safety assessments according to the CAA regulations

• Design and manufacture the system equipment

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Certification of a first generation satellite-based landing system

• SCAT-I developed in accordance with USA specifications due to no international standard

• Certification process included approval of safety-critical software with very stringent QA-requirements

• Certification completed

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SCAT-I Concept

-D ifferential corrections-Satellite health-FAS Data

GPS Data

GPS DataGPS Data

Monitor Data

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Challenges for a system frontier

• System Requirements changing during the project due to better knowledge of GPS-weaknesses

• First time an approach is based on flying on information from a datalink and not a ”radiation beam”

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Challenges

• Approval authorities not used to software-based NAVAIDS– Very much focus on integrity aspects

• No other companies in Norway to consult in such stringent SW-process

• Depending on avionics supplier’s equipment; completion of the common certification got to a halt due to partner’s financial problems

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Status and outcome of the Park Air Systems’ development

• SCAT-I ground station certification completed in 2004, avionics in 2007

• Established and successfully implemented a development process for safety-critical software and products

• Foundation for further development within satellite navigation systems and other safety-critical products

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The future for air navigation systems

• Based on more than one satellite system (e.g. GPS and Galileo)

• Some ground based NAVAIDS will remain for backup / supplement

• Ground systems will still handle the most safety-critical landings