BREMEN, Germany, 15 May 2009.Honeywell announced that installation is complete for its SmartPath Precision Landing System at Bremen Airport in Germany. Honeywell's technology is a ground-based augmentation system that supports precision approach and landings using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data and transmits digital guidance signals to aircraft systems.
"The flexibility of Honeywell's SmartPath system allows for multiple approach paths, enabling airports to increase capacity without expensive runway expansions," says TK Kallenbach, Honeywell Aerospace vice president, marketing and program management. "The precise approach path can allow airports to reduce noise in surrounding communities while operators save fuel and lower emissions."
Installation of the SmartPath system in Bremen is done under a contract with DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German ANS Provider. The SmartPath system in Bremen provides differential GPS corrections to be used to supplement the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport. Currently, aircraft use ILS, an older technology with technical limitations that impact flight path flexibility and airport throughput.
ILS is also susceptible to signal interference by weather and obstacles. This can result in significant disruptions to airport traffic and cause delays. Replacing ILS with GBAS technology has been identified in the FAA's NextGen and Eurocontrol's SESAR programs as critical enablers for improving air traffic capacity.
"We are proud to have the second operational station worldwide installed and our GBAS equipped customers appreciate the innovative approaches," says Frank Brenner, Director Center of DFS.
Honeywell's Bremen installation is one of eight Honeywell GBAS stations operating worldwide, with additional installations planned at airports in the U.S. and Europe throughout 2009.
