GPS World

Tag: flight management system

  • Sikorsky partners with CMC Electronics for FMS

    Sikorsky partners with CMC Electronics for FMS

     

    Image: CMC Electronics
    Image: CMC Electronics

    CMC Electronics has entered a multi-year contract with Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, to supply its CMA-2082MC military flight management system (FMS) for several Sikorsky helicopter models, including the UH-60M, HH-60M, HH-60W, S-70i and the S-70M.

    CMA-2082MC is a complete FMS with integrated radio management, which provides centralized control of navigation sensors, communication radios, mission avionics and more. It is also highly reliable while operating in harsh environments.

    The helicopters complete with CMA-2082MC military FMS will be delivered to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, as well as several Black Hawk customers for use in a wide range of missions including search and rescue, troop transport, medical evacuation, disaster relief, aerial firefighting and border patrol.

  • Garmin’s GPS 3000 enables ADS-B and WAAS/SBAS operational capability

    Garmin’s GPS 3000 enables ADS-B and WAAS/SBAS operational capability

    Photo: Garmin
    Photo: Garmin

    Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., has launched the GPS 3000, a high-integrity GPS position sensor that interfaces to existing avionics to help meet Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out requirements.

    Also, targeting the air transport and defense markets, the GPS 3000 is designed as a WAAS/SBAS position source for select Flight Management Systems (FMS).

    Aircraft that are eligible to utilize the GPS 3000 as an ADS-B position source include the Embraer E135/E145 and the Legacy 600/650. Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the GPS 3000 in these aircraft is currently available from FTI Engineering, in cooperation with Atlas Air Service in Germany, and can be installed throughout the entire Garmin dealer network.

    “Garmin continues to lead the industry with the most fielded ADS-B solutions that span all segments of aviation, including a wide-range of commercial, defense, regional and business aircraft,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “We are thrilled to provide these aircraft with a solution that is cost-effective and is an easy to install alternative to the existing avionics manufacturer’s service bulletin.”

    A rugged, stand-alone and certified Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)/Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) GPS, the GPS 3000 meets DO-160 and DO-178B standards and is designed specifically for the harsh environmental conditions encountered by commercial aircraft.

    This compact and remote-mount solution utilizes enhanced WAAS/SBAS GPS satellite signals to provide precise position data through a standard interface. It also meets applicable high-integrity ADS-B position source standards, including TSO-C145d Class 3, the company said.

    The GPS 3000 is also designed to interface with select FMS to support GPS guidance throughout terminal, enroute and approach navigation. When configured appropriately, the GPS 3000 is capable of providing position information to an existing FMS to meet requirements for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and can support GPS-based vertical approach navigation, such as Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV) approach guidance.

    European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) STC of the GPS 3000 in the Embraer E135/E145 and Legacy 600/650 is available from FTI Engineering, in cooperation with Atlas Air Service, as well as Garmin dealers. FAA validation of the STC is pending.

  • Rockwell Collins’ Avionics Enable Successful European Union Flight Demonstrations

    Rockwell Collins’ flight management system (FMS) and GNSS receiver successfully enabled the first demonstrations of advanced arrival and departure flight operations for the European Union’s airspace-enhancing project FilGAPP (“Filling the Gap” in GNSS Advanced Procedures and Operations).

    The goal of FilGAPP is to create new, more efficient methods of navigating airspace using satellite-based navigation and advanced FMS functions.

    “FilGAPP highlights the opportunity that exists for air carriers and corporate operators to increase operating capacity and to save time and fuel through more efficient terminal procedures at European airports,” said Claude Alber, vice president and managing director, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EuMEA) for Rockwell Collins.

    The most recent demonstration, performed in Germany in collaboration with key FilGAPP operational partners, took place on a Hawker 750 aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins’ FMS and GNSS receiver. It was the first time that a high precision and high integrity missed approach/departure was performed in Europe.

    The flights also validated technical and operational independence from the closely spaced air traffic control systems of two nearby airports, which enabled increased operational capacity for each airport.

    Similar advanced departure/arrival demonstrations as part of project FilGAPP were performed earlier in the year with Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) in Spain on Bombardier CRJ-1000 aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins systems. The trials took advantage of the radius-to-fix functionality connected to European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS)-enabled localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches.

    FilGAPP is a project of the European Commission’s 7th Framework Program managed by the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and coordinated by the Spanish transport consultancy, INECO, with industry and national air navigation service provider partners, including Rockwell Collins.

  • Navtech Partners with DW International on GNSS Coverage for Flight Planning

    Navtech, Inc., a Toronto-based provider of flight operations services, has entered a partnership with DW International (DWI). The UK-based aviation consultancy will provide Navtech Flight Plan (NFP) customers with GNSS RAIM/RNP Prediction Services. This service, required to meet FAA Performance Based Navigation (PBN) guidelines and state requirements, fits into Navtech’s current suite and provides GPS coverage information for routes and airports as part of the flight planning process.

    Navtech serves more than 350 airlines and aviation services customers. Its product suite includes aeronautical charts, navigation data solutions, flight planning, aircraft performance software (take-off/landing, weight and balance), and crew planning solutions.  Many of Navtech’s products can be configured as part of an EFB solution, including take-off data calculation, weight and balance, and aeronautical charts.

    DWI is an independent consultancy which provides technical support in the fields of air navigation, civil air communications and air traffic management. The company also develops and maintains bespoke (custom) software and manages websites that support air operations. The company has access to a wide range of experienced technical experts including airworthiness and operational approvals inspectors, aviation safety engineers and air traffic management consultants.

    “The relationship with DWI will strengthen the Navtech Flight Plan product,” said Bill Macey, Product Director, Flight Planning at Navtech. “We are continuously motivated to provide our customers with superior quality offerings, especially when they are supported by a partnership with a reputable aviation firm like DWI. Their reliable 24/7 service along with their initial help desk support will afford our users peace of mind.”

    The GRPS service allows operators to comply with all FAA, European, ICAO and other worldwide RAIM requirements and guidelines. Specifically, real-time tailored RAIM predictions for RNAV and RNP operations are delivered through NFP via the internet to NFP users.

    The service is fully automated for dispatchers/flight planners to obtain their predictions as they plan their route and the service allows dispatchers/flight planners and crew to plan around periods of reduced GNSS availability by taking all route details from the flight plan and calculating RAIM availability for all route types (such as enroute, terminal, approach) on a leg-by-leg basis. Destination and alternate airports for RNAV and RNP around the world are included. GRPS also processes GPS NANUs, evaluating and interpreting them in view of establishing their relevance to the RAIM availability.

    “DWI is pleased to be working with Navtech to provide their customers with the RAIM predictions they need for GNSS-based operations,” said John Wilde, CEO of DWI. “The consistency and availability of our service provides the reliability NFP users require.”