airberlin first airline in Europe to use GPS landing system

posted | Monday, 13 Feb 2012

airberlin will be the first airline in Europe to use satellite-based landings on regular flights at Bremen Airport following the German Federal Office for Air Traffic Control’s (DFS) certification of the ground station for the new satellite-based approach and landing system, GBAS (Ground Based Augmentation System).

DFS has been working closely with the airline since 2008 on the development of the new system, and in 2009, airberlin was the first airline worldwide to receive approval for its Boeing 737 Next Generation fleet to use GBAS on landings.

The new system is said to be more precise than the instrument-based landing system currently in use. GBAS also has less noise pollution on the ground because approach angles can be altered. It is claimed that the system can be used in the future in mountainous areas, where it is not possible to land using the current instrument-based system.

“This innovative technology will make it possible to land more efficiently and with less noise pollution,” said technical pilot, Boeing fleet, airberlin, Tim Techt.

“In the future, GBAS will play a central role in the on-board navigation of our Boeing fleet.”

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