Brussels, 02/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 March, the European Commission launched the EGNOS “Safety-of-Life” service for aviation. The EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) system enables precision approaches and renders air navigation safer as well as helps to reduce delays, diversions and cancellations of flights. In addition the free-to-use technology allows airports to increase their overall capacity and cut operating costs. EGNOS also enables the planning of shorter, more fuel efficient routes which will reduce the CO2 emissions of the industry. EGNOS is a satellite-based augmentation system which improves the accuracy of GPS signals across Europe and, the Commission says in a press release, is the precursor of Galileo, the global satellite navigation system being developed by the European Union.
European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani said: “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. It will considerably increase the safety of air navigation, provide economic benefits to airports and airlines, and help reduce CO2emissions. The aviation industry can now take full advantage of the system”.
EGNOS was launched in October 2009 and since then has been available for open applications such as personal navigation and precision farming. Following a certification and verification process, the system has now been authorised also for use in aviation. To be able to use the EGNOS Safety-of-Life service, aircraft need to be equipped with an EGNOS-enabled receiver and airports must have EGNOS-specific approach procedures for their runways. (Com-Gp/transl.rt)