The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) welcomed the European Commission’s new performance-based navigation implementing rule (PBN-IR), which outlines airspace usage requirements and operating procedures concerning performance-based navigation. Thus, the rule improves European airport capacity and safety by adding all-weather access at secondary and tertiary airfields.
“Our [business aviation] sector is now in a position to optimize access at more regional airports as this technical innovation is a way to allow more precise navigation and ensure safe operations in all weather conditions,” EBAA said.
These new approaches are underpinned by the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) developed by the European Space Agency. EGNOS enables precision approaches with vertical and lateral guidance—localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV)—with ILS-like Category I minimums, without the need for any ground infrastructure.
“The business aviation segment is a pioneer in the use of EGNOS and most new business aircraft are already equipped,” EBAA said. “Operators can start using published LPV procedures immediately, without making any upgrades, just by obtaining the operational approval from the authority where the aircraft is registered.”
According to EBAA, increasing EGNOS penetration will bring “real benefits” to regional, business, rotorcraft and general aviation, as well as to European connectivity and the economy.