Frankfurt am Main, GermanyFraport AG
Nomination is for 4 entities under 1 project. If awarded, it is anticipated the trophy would circulate among the 4 (Fraport, DFS, Zurich Airport, skyguide). These 2 airports and their ANSPs led Europe in the implementation of Ground Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS) for operational use in revenue passenger service by airlines. Both airports provided their own funds for the GBAS projects and collaborated with their ANSPs for the implementation. GBAS is now operational at Frankfurt and Zurich. In addition, both airports, along with their ANSPs participate in SESAR GBAS Cat II/III development and demonstration projects facilitating EU wide implementation of this new technology.
Award criteria
- Contribution to increasing capacity of ATM systems
- Contribution to increasing safety of ATM systems
- Contribution to reducing ATM costs
- Contribution to reducing the impact of air transport on the environment
- Early implementation
Explanation
- One GBAS enables precision approaches to all runway ends increasing all weather capacity.
- GBAS is immune to beam interference that affects ILS; eliminates ILS safety areas; eliminates false glide slope lock-ons
- GBAS does not require recurring flight validation like ILS reducing maintenance costs; only one GBAS needed to service all runway ends reducing acquisition costs.
- GBAS enable multiple different glide slopes to mitigate noise; for example, a 3.2 degree glide slope can reduce noise by 3-5 dB.
- These airports funded GBAS instead of relying on a government agency to provide funds; they are early adopters that serve as an example for other airports and ANSPs.
- The airports and ANSPs welcome others who want to learn about GBAS and its benefits in real world operations; they share their implementation experience and results to assist others to replicate the implementation process.
- The airports and ANSPs continue to drive for advanced operations enabled by GBAS including steeper glide slopes, RNP to GLS complex approaches, and parallel approach operations. They are participants in SESAR Cat II/III development projects and advanced operational concepts demonstrations and operational evaluations.
- Successful projects were a result of ANSP/Airport/Airline/Supplier partnerships. The nominees organized and led the teams at each location and also collaborated between the airport projects (for example, DFS supported skyguide with VDB measurements).
- The ANSPs led the required changes to ATM, Safety Management, and the regulatory environment resulting in operational GBAS use by airlines, in the weather, while carrying passengers.
- GBAS implementation serves all equipped airlines. Non-European airlines use the Frankfurt and Zurich GBAS systems. Results from SESAR GBAS activities serve as the basis for harmonization via ICAO and the International GBAS Working Group. Both ANSPs and both airports actively participate in the IGWG.