Aviation

EGNOS was designed for aviation, and aviation continues to be a key segment for European GNSS. EGNOS increases accuracy and integrity, improving accessibility, efficiency and safety to operators, pilots and airports across Europe.

EGNOS allows lateral and angular vertical guidance during the Final Approach Segment (FAS) without requiring visual contact with the ground until a Decision Height (DH) down to only 200 feet above the runway (LPV minima as low as 200 feet).

EGNOS LPV-200 service:

Reduces delays, diversions and cancellations thanks to the lower minima ( 200 feet), potentially reducing the operational costs for flying to those destinations.
Increases, continuity of airport operations in case of ILS outage or maintenance.
Enhances safety levels, as the LPV-200 procedure effectively can serve as a back-up to the ILS (and as a primary one if there is none).
Improves efficiency of operations, lowering fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and decreasing aviation’s environmental impact.

Today, more than 460 EGNOS enabled approaches are operational in Europe and this figure will boost the implementation of the so-called Performance-Based Navigation (PNB). Consequently, European regional, business and general aviation operators are increasingly equipping their aircrafts with EGNOS-enabled avionics, allowing them to take advantage of already published procedures.

Useful links

SBAS certified (TSO 145/146) sensor/equipment manufacturers

SBAS certified (ETSO C145/C146) sensor/equipment manufacturers

EGNOS for AVIATION means

Accessibility

Decision height reduced to as low as 200 feet
Access to small and medium-sized airports and heliports in poor weather conditions
Previously inaccessible approach paths are opened up

Sustainability

Reduces noise and emissions with curved approaches and continuous descent paths
Allows helicopter approach procedures from any direction, avoiding populated areas

Efficiency

Offers similar performance to ILS CAT I without the need for additional infrastructure
The lower decision height reduces costly delays, diversions and cancellations
Gives airports a competitive edge over those offering only non-precision approaches

Safety

Provides vertical geometric guidance and stabilized approach
Reduces significantly the occurrence of Controlled Flight into Terrain
Acts as a backup system for approaches into airports that already offer precision approaches
Allows the design of more flexible and safer approach procedures for rotorcraft