Rockwell Collins’ flight management system (FMS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver have successfully enabled the first demonstrations of advanced arrival and departure flight operations for the European Union’s airspace-enhancing project.

Known as ‘Filling the Gap in GNSS Advanced Procedures and Operations’ (FilGAPP), the project is aimed at creating new, more efficient methods of navigating airspace using satellite-based navigation and advanced FMS functions.

Rockwell Collins Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EuMEA) vice-president and managing director Claude Alber said: "FilGAPP highlights the opportunity that exists for air carriers and corporate operators to increase operating capacity and to save time and fuel through more efficient terminal procedures at European airports."

"FilGAPP highlights the opportunity that exists for air carriers and corporate operators to increase operating capacity and to save time and fuel."

The demonstrations were performed in Germany in collaboration with key FilGAPP operational partners on a Hawker 750 aircraft, which was equipped with Rockwell Collins’ FMS and GNSS receiver.

Rockwell Collins stated that the demonstration marks the first time that a high-precision and high-integrity missed approach/departure was performed in Europe.

The flights also evaluated technical and operational independence from the closely spaced air traffic control systems of two nearby airports, which resulted in increased operational capacity for each airport.

Earlier this year, similar advanced departure/arrival demonstrations as part of project FilGAPP were performed with Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) in Spain on Bombardier CRJ-1000 aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins systems.

The trials benefited from the radius-to-fix functionality connected to the European geostationary navigation overlay service (EGNOS)enabled localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV).

Defence Technology