European Commission launches new satellite navigation service

European Commission launches new satellite navigation service

2011-03-02 21:57:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Commission on Wednesday launched EGNOS "Safety of life", a new satellite navigation service, to increase aviation safety.

The EGNOS (the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) system enables precision approaches and renders air navigation safer as well as helping reducing delays, diversions and cancellations of flights.

"I am very pleased to announce the launch of the EGNOS Safety-of-Life service, yet another tangible result of Europe’s investment in satellite navigation," said European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship.

In addition the free-to-use technology allows airports to increase their overall capacity and cut operating costs. The new European satellite navigation service also allows planning shorter, more fuel efficient routes that will reduce CO2 emissions.

The new service is a satellite-based augmentation system which improves the accuracy of GPS signals across Europe. EGNOS is the precursor of Galileo, the global satellite navigation system being developed by the European Union.

"It will considerably increase the safety of air navigation, provide economic benefits to airports and airlines, and help reduce CO2 emissions. The aviation industry can now take full advantage of the system," added Tajani.

EGNOS was first unveiled in October 2009 and has been available for open applications such as personal navigation and precision farming. The system was authorized for use in aviation by the Commission following a certification and verification process.

In order for the EGNOS Safety-of-Life service to be used, aircrafts need to be equipped with an EGNOS-enabled receiver and airports must have EGNOS-specific approach procedures for their runways.

The new system is made up of transponders aboard three geostationary satellites and an interconnected ground network of 40 positioning stations and four control centers. ENOS covers all European States and its range will be extended in the near future.

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