To LPV or not to LPV, that's the question!

Earth from space

Image from Inmarsat

The UK lost their access to the EGNOS Safety of Life service in June 2021 as part of the EU divorce. As a result, all satellite-based approach procedures that require augmentation (otherwise known as SBAS LPV), were withdrawn, and the associated lines of minima, subsequently removed from published procedure charts.

The Inmarsat-3 F5 Satellite was launched back in 1998, and a transponder on it is now being repurposed, to allow the satellite to be used for augmented navigation for aviation, maritime, land vehicles and other GNSS navigation purposes likely to include eVTOLs. With a possible Signal-in-Space by March 2022, and a final review date of July 2022, this will hopefully be in place as a service, sooner rather than later.

This capability, along with existing and new Inmarsat satellites, presents a new opportunity for precise navigation with high integrity, across the UK, in its airspace and in UK waters.

As quoted in the article: "This work also has the potential to be exported to other nations around the world, benefitting the UK economically as well as technologically." This could possibly present new augmentation options for territories who don't have satellite augmentation capability.

My advice would be to hold off on planned LPV approach projects (airspace changes) until a more certain implementation date is given, which could be as early as just a few months from now!

Article taken from Fly-By Nunes’ LinkedIn Page

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