Operational Benefits of Ground Based Augmentation Systems Airline Perspective Ron Renk Manager, Flight Technologies/ 737 Pilot Flight Operations June 15, 2011
Today s Program What is GBAS? Why Continental supports GBAS / Operational Benefits Continental s Role / Current GBAS Projects Problems Encountered Solutions Future Uses of GBAS GBAS Wrap-Up Other NextGen Projects 2
Continental s GBAS History In 1998 Continental demonstrated it s belief in a next generation satellite based precision landing system while performing a differential GPS approach into EWR in an MD-80 aircraft. During that time frame many visions for approaches into EWR were created that just needed a technology to support the operation. 3
Continental s GBAS History 4
What is GLS? 5
What is GLS? GPS Satellites Provide position information GBAS Facility Provides corrected position data (differential position), path data, and integrity data Uplinks data to airplane via VHF Data Broadcast Multi-Mode Receivers Translate uplinked data Computes airplane position Provides ILS-like path deviations 6
Why GLS? 7
Why GLS? Reliable Predefined Paths Improve Predictability, Safety, and Airspace System Capacity Foundation for Performance-Based Airspace Continuous Descent Paths from Top of Descent RNP Path Options Key Elements of Plan Low-level RNP Missed Approach Paths RNP GLS RNP Provides Full Path Definition xls ILS *Source Boeing GBAS based GLS Approach GLS Eliminates ILS Critical Areas Low-level RNP Departure Paths 8
Operational Benefits Current Operator Benefits Eliminates ILS critical areas Multi-Mode Approach (MMA) capability Allows aircraft with higher RNP values to take advantage of that capability to the final approach but have precision guidance to the ground Common procedures with current ILS make pilot training easier and reduce human factors associated with new flight deck technology Linear obstacle assessment allows low approaches where ILS not capable Ease of locating site for installation Future Operator Benefits Precision guidance for departures Curved path capability for non-fms aircraft Differential GPS augmentation for RNP 9
Operational Benefits Unique Location Specific Benefits Typhoon Proof Design Remove external antennas Close parallel arrivals Digital technology reduces the dimensions of transgression zones due to superior accuracy over analog technology Runway offset approach configurations Possible future use of Vertical Geometry for RNP would eliminate tempurature compensation / temperature limits 10
Operational Benefits Benefits to Air Navigation Service Providers Lower cost replacement to current ILS covering multiple runways ends Each ground station capable of handling 28 different procedures Alleviates frequency congestion Portability of GLS ground station Turn it on Once for Life Lower Maintenance Cost Shorter Flight Inspections Better service availability vs. ILS 11
Operational Benefits Benefits to the Environment More efficient routes saves fuel More efficient routes reduce emissions Precision flight path allows community noise abatement 12
Continental s Role GBAS Projects To Date: Tested SLS-3000 in Guam Working on SLS-4000 installation in IAH Installation of SLS-4000 in EWR. First commissioned system Continental s Commitment: Retrofitted 9-737 NG aircraft in GUM All new delivery Boeing aircraft to be GLS equipped 3-737 NG Full Motion Simulator with GLS Partners in all GBAS Projects: Boeing, FAA, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, Gables, Port Authority NY/NJ, Houston Airport Systems 13
Continental s Role Training via AFM Training Bulletin 14
Current GBAS Projects - GUM Guam GLS Trials using 9-737NG Aircraft Aircraft Retrofit with: Boeing Service Bulletin / Wiring Collins GLU-925 MMR Gables tuning panels 15
Current GBAS Projects - GUM PGUM airport selected to run trials Close to equator Prone to Typhoon activity Small sub-fleet of 737 aircraft 16
Current GBAS Projects - GUM PGUM GLS RWY 6L 17
Current GBAS Projects - IAH Begin Process Utilize Cat I GBAS Develop ILS Overlays Develop Approaches to Runways Lacking Instrument Procedures Pilot & Controller Training and Familiarity End to End Trials with EWR Building Blocks Enhance Capacity on 8R/26L by Eliminating ILS Critical Areas Procedure for 33R that can be Procedurally Separated from Hobby 18
Continental desires to improve schedule reliability at EWR by leveraging existing GLS and RNAV/RNP capabilities to provide a second arrival runway and increase airport throughput. Current GBAS Projects - EWR Currently EWR Runway 29 does not have an instrument approach. Safety and efficiency will be enhanced with multiple RNP/GLS procedures. 19
Current GBAS Projects - EWR ATC Ground Delay Program Data demonstrate the need to maintain the availability of a second arrival runway to minimize delays. Minimal increases in arrival capacity result in significant delay reductions. TIME (UTC) Of Arrival SCOPE of GDP GDP Arrival Rate Avg Delay Mins Max Delay Mins Flights Impacted 1800-0159 1800-0159 1800-0159 1200 miles + CANADA 36 70 125 215 1200 miles + CANADA 38 48 97 215 1200 miles + CANADA 40 30 73 215 20
Current GBAS Projects - EWR Begin Process Utilize Cat I GBAS Develop ILS Overlays Runway 29 Instrument Approaches Pilot & Controller Training and Familiarity Document Benefits Building Blocks Closely Spaced Parallel Approaches (RPAT/RNP-GLS Visual) RW 22R Increased Glide Path/Extended Touchdown 21
Current GBAS Projects - EWR 22
Current GBAS Projects - EWR 23
Current GBAS Projects - EWR Installation: Reference receivers VDB Antenna Shelter with SLS-4000 and battery backup *Source Honeywell 24
Current GBAS Projects - EWR Project EWR yielded first ever public GLS approaches Approaches created for runways: 4L, 4R, 22L, 22R, 11 25
The Party That Never Happened November/December 2009 Public GLS procedures flight checked and approved SLS-4000 officially turned on, procedures NOTAM d out during testing Stability testing started for the required for 14 days STABILITY TEST FAILED, STATION UNINTENTIONALLY TAKEN OFF THE AIR DUE TO EXCESSIVE RFI 26
Problems Encountered After some investigating, it was ultimately determined that the GLS station was taken off the air by a jamming event. GLS operating normally and working as intended to protect aircraft January/February 2010 FAA Tech Center and FAA Spectrum investigate source of jamming. It is originally described as a jamming event that has radar sweep characteristics. Jamming event has a relative motion of approximately 60 MPH. QUIZ TIME What is near the location of GBAS installation that would travel ~60 MPH? 27
Problems Encountered Existing GBAS Configuration at Newark-Liberty Honeywell SLS-4000 *Source FAA 28
Problems Encountered *Source FAA 29
Cause of the RFI at Newark: Privacy Jammers Problems Encountered Why are Jammers Used? To mask user position from new GPSbased tracking systems Employee tracking Personal tracking Rental cars Prisoners ankle bracelet Stolen vehicles - cars/trucks Cell phones / Drug dealers *Source FAA 30
Problems Encountered *Source FAA 31
Jammer Capabilities: Problems Encountered Jammers are designed to overwhelm GPS receivers by broadcasting directly on the GPS L1 frequency The power required to achieve this varies by manufacturer. The power of the models surveyed or tested exceed the necessary power AND far exceed the GPS interference mask published in SATNAV standards. *Source FAA 32
Solutions After working over a year studying the problem and potential solutions, a 3-step plan emerges: Update the SLS-4000 software to Block I which contains improvements in the area of RFI FCC action campaign to educate and enforce laws on intentional GPS jamming Changes to the SLS-4000 physical configuration to mitigate traffic related jamming events 33
Solutions Block-I has a SDA path in place w/ FAA EWR Block-I Newark Field Performance continually scrutinized by Honeywell and FAA Initial Prototype loaded on 12/16/10 Updates being developed using Newark data Block-I Key Benefits/Features Improved RFI monitors Overall Availability increased in the presence of RFI Ability to operate on 2 RRs for brief period (400 seconds) Auto Recovery for RFI events that constitute Broadcast 0 Auto Restart for RFI events that constitute Time-Mark 0 34
Solutions Honeywell GBAS RFI Impact Summary Block-0 vs Block-I Uptime 36 Hours versus 1.35 Hours Outage *Source Honeywell 35
Solutions After working over a year studying the problem and potential solutions, a 3-step plan emerges: Update the SLS-4000 software to Block 1 which contains improvements in the area of RFI FCC action campaign to educate and enforce laws on intentional GPS jamming Changes to the SLS-4000 physical configuration to mitigate traffic related jamming events 36
Solutions FAA Spectrum and FCC Actions: Public Notice and News Releases. Consistently Detect source of RFI. Quickly Locate source of RFI. Coordinate RFI source Mitigation Enforcement via Multi Agency Partners. 37
Solutions 38
Solutions Physical Reconfiguration of the SLS-4000 Installation: Envisioned Re-Configuration 39
EWR Flight Trials Green tracks = GLS, Red tracks = ILS 40
EWR Flight Trials Green tracks = GLS, Red tracks = ILS 41
Future Uses of GBAS What other things should GBAS do? CAT II on a CAT I system Differential GPS input for RNAV Terminal Area Procedures (TAP) for stand-alone curved path approaches Departures 42
GBAS Wrap-Up Which came first? GLS Ground Station GLS Airborne Equipage 43
GBAS Wrap-Up Aircraft Manufacturer support Boeing: GLS is a basic feature on the 787.. and on the 747-8 44
GBAS Wrap-Up Aircraft Manufacturer support Airbus: Model GLS Status A380 Category I is certified as an optional feature (with autoland). A320 Certification for Category I (with autoland) in 2008 A330/340 Certification for Category I to follow A320. A350 To be certified as basic feature (Category I?). 45
GBAS Wrap-Up International GLS Activities Seattle Houston Newark Bremen Malaga Palermo Japan Guam Key: Prototype GBAS Facilities: Brazil Sydney Early Adopter Projects: 46
Other NextGen Projects Other technologies Continental is working on that may be of interest to military aviation: RNAV RNP Iridium SATCOM (Global Coverage) FANS Over Iridium (FOI) AOC Datalink 4D Trajectory / Required Time of Arrival (RTA) Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) 47
This is a Team Effort 48
Questions? Thank You for Your Time Today and Thank You for Your Service to Our Country! 49