EGNOS passes flight tests

European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the first European satellite navigation service, has passed a series of international air traffic flight trials.

During the tests, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) test plane made a number of approaches and landings using the new procedures, in each case aligning itself with the runway's axis and then following a descent path to touchdown.

The quality of the EGNOS signals was tested by comparing the landing phases guided by satellite with landings using traditional means such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS).

The results of Limoges trials show again that EGNOS signals allow approaches and landings that meet the safety standards that govern international air traffic.

One of the main advantages of EGNOS is that it is available everywhere without the need for ground infrastructure and it provides vertical guidance procedures for every runway. Furthermore, the cockpit data display is the same as for ILS, so there are no familiarisation problems for the pilots and no additional training costs.