THE FUTURE OF GNSS/GPS PROCEDURES DESIGN,
GENEVA 1998

The Future of GNSS/GPS Procedures Design was the topic for the January 1998 conference held in Geneva, Switzerland.

This subject attracted much attention and was attended by speakers and delegates from as far afield as Brazil, USA and South Africa.

Wavionix Symposium - The Future of GNSS/GPS
Procedures Design

Summary of Proceedings…

• The conference was opened by Patrick Aisher (Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Wavionix Software Ltd).
  He told the audience that, as the leading company specialised in providing services in the field of ICAO PANS-OPS Procedures, Wavionix had a natural interest in seeing the implementation of criteria for GPS Procedures.
  
  
• Jean Pierre Jobin (Director General of Geneva Airport)
  Explained the benefits of Geneva as a focus for the Air Transport Industry and the importance of the new infrastructure improvements to Geneva International which would ensure its' success as a major international hub.
  
  
• Dr. Alain Geiger (Geodesy and Geodynamics Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich)
  Provided an insight into the academic aspects of the GNSS/GPS theory and summarised that; “Various points had to be resolved for satellite applications such as co-ordinate systems, interference, multi-pathing, rugged terrain etc…which complicate the implementation of the theoretically possible into the useful reality”.
  
  
• David Gamper (Technical & Safety Director of Airports Council International)
  Concluded that; “CNS/ATM is the future and ACI wants to be able to distribute knowledge of the costs/benefits, and assist operators integrating their expertise on airport capacity into the improvement of overall system capacity”.
  
  
  
• Patrick Schelling (Head of R&D; Operations Engineering Swisscontrol)
  

  	Patrick Schelling

  Explained that part of the enabling technology of future ATM systems; “inspite of high hopes and concerns over cost, integrity, availability, vulnerability, Satellite Navigation should be brought “down to earth” when considering future Air Traffic Management systems. He concluded that whilst GNSS/GPS alone will not solve all ATM problems, cost/benefit will determine which technology will be used”.
  
  
• Bernard Meier-Joseph (Crossair's Head of Special Projects)
  

  Bernhard Meier Joseph

  As one of the first airlines in Europe to develop GNSS procedures for approaches, Meier explained Crossair's practical experience of GNSS. He claimed that the Lugano Trials proved the safety margin by application of RNP tunnel concept, and enabled the aircraft to approach the runway from the north in VMC. The trials provide a discussion basis for enhanced AWOP improvements for any airport SID, STAR, and One-Engine Out Procedures.
  
  
• Dr. Philippe Rochat (Chairman Swiss World Airways)
  As former Secretary General of ICAO, Rochat stated that “the global implementation of a worldwide seamless air navigation system for the 21st century is a formidable challenge for governments, international organisations, and the aviation industry”. “Procedures”, he said; “will change for the benefit of both pilots and air traffic managers, while the role to States and air navigation service providers should change without infringing on state sovereignty.
  
  Providing these ideas are endorsed and implemented, and that satellite providers can guarantee the availability and integrity of their services without discrimination, the new worldwide air navigation system will revolutionise the air transport industry from the dawn of the coming millennium”.
  
  
• Paul Maxmilian Müller (Chief Executive Officer, Swisscontrol)
  Presenting the management view he compared the change from ground to satellite-based navigation, with the abandonment of “state-minded attitudes” of the past in favour of a new service philosophy that puts the market and the customer at centre stage. Müller concluded; “if GPS is the first ture step towards cockpit-based air traffic management, then the removal of that same ATM from the top-heavy state-control it marks the first true step towards a new service culture that is genuinely and consistently focused on customer wishes and market needs”.
  
  
• Kim O'Neil (Senior Aviation Safety & Regulatory Analyst, ATT Ltd)
  Talked about the key issues in CNS/ATM certification based on his experience in certifying the North European ADS-B Network (NEAN). O'Neil pointed out that the key issues remain regulation over national boundaries and the need to develop a flexible and commercially aware regulatory structure which allows the; “creation of a level playing field for European Industry to enable them to compete on even terms with their counterparts, whilst recognising the need to balance safety and economic issues”.
  
  
• Thierry Lefloch (International Federation of Airlines Pilots Association)
  Was not present however, his summary from the pilot's perspective on GPS states that his wish list would include an “integrated, uninterrupted signal; an international standard for RAIM; a standardisation of WGS84, and related databases and a moratorium over reduced airspace”.
  
  
• Lewis Center (Manager, Satellite Navigation Division, ISI Inc.; Systems Design Team Leader, Federal Aviation Administration Satellite Navigation Centre)
  Pointed out that “In the great debates over policy and control, the simple fact that GPS allows non-precision approaches to virtually any location world wide without major infrastructure and investment cost, is often forgotten”. He demonstrated that adopting GPS also means that improvements in ATM advances are no longer constrained by the limitations of ground based systems, that are expensive to field, maintain and operate”.
  
  He continued that; “it has been reliably reported than investment in air traffic infrastructure modernisation offer nations the highest rate of return that can be made, especially for investment in satellite navigation services. This is especially true for developing GPS approaches. Non-precision approaches make commercial aviation possible in new locations. They enhance aviation safety. They bring fuel savings to airlines and they can open remote areas to trade and development opportunities”.
  
  In conclusion, Center stated; “that all these benefits are available if a nation is willing to approve the use of GPS as a supplementary means of navigation in its airspace, but first some terminal work should be done to prepare for eventual optimisation of the system. Approach, missed approach and departure procedures must be formulated for every runway-end available for use, not only to provide the procedure but to identify required airspace, operational and environmental modifications.
  
  Considering the time required to accomplish the airspace and regulatory revisions which may be required, the individual state should waste no time in beginning the transition”.