News

18th August 2008

FAA Approves RAIM Prediction Service

Jeppesen have recently received FAA approval for its receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) prediction capability, backend elements of which are supplied by DW (GPRS). Air France has been using a version of GRPS since 2007 and Jeppesen integrated the service into its flight planning suite in April of this year. While the tool already meets the requirements of EASA AMC 20-4 (Airworthiness Approval and Operational Criteria For the Use of Navigation Systems in European Airspace Designated For Basic RNAV Operations) and JAA TGL 10 (Airworthiness And Operational Approval For Precision RNAV Operations In Designated European Airspace) and so already conforms to international standards, this additional approval for Jeppesen from the FAA underlines DW's ability to develop quality products that serve the needs of the aviation community.

The FAA stated that Jeppesen's method of receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) prediction was approved for meeting Advisory Circular 90-100A U.S. Terminal and En Route Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations requirements with the understanding the prediction algorithm appropriately matches user equipment.

18th July 2008

DW starts A-SMGCS Study

DW, working with NATS, has embarked upon an A-SMGCS Human Machine Interface study for EUROCONTROL. Having successfully completed the "Optimised MLS/GBAS Operations in Low Visibility Conditions" with NATS in 2007, DW and NATS will now examine one of the issues arising from the previous study.

To confirm the feasibility of the Trigger Line concept, controllers using A-SMGCS must be able to exactly identify when an aircraft has crossed the trigger line. By comparing A-SMGCS output with video capture and photographs of a notional Trigger Line this study aims to determine the accuracy of aircraft representations, "smudges", on A-SMGCS. This then will help determine the feasibility of introducing Trigger Line use into an operational environment.

11th June 2008

Meilyr Howells joins DW

DW is pleased to announce that Meilyr Howells has joined DW on a permanent basis. Meilyr has been with DW since January as part of the Go Wales graduate placement initiative and has excelled in his role as software developer focusing on the GRPS service and SAFIRE online application in DW's Cardiff office.

Meilyr joins DW having recently completed an MSc in Computing at Cardiff University and before that being Welsh Language Development Officer within the Welsh Assembly Government.

5th June 2008

AUGUR tool performs well in independent study

An Air France sponsored study of RAIM Prediction tools has recently demonstrated that the AUGUR tool operated by DW gives results which are extremely close to actual RAIM outages.

The study, conducted by DGAC/DNSA and Egisavia in 2007, compared 4 weeks of predictions of various RAIM tools against GPS signals recorded at Paris CDG and analysed by AREOPAGE.

Based on this study Air France concluded that "AUGUR was well representative of real RAIM unavailability (when the receiver and AUGUR have the same input parameters)"; and "If RAIM predictions are too pessimistic, it is only a problem of tool configuration (mask angle setting)".

As we welcome the findings of this study, we also highlight that our GRPS tool (read more here) currently offers RAIM predictions to airline operators, state CAAs and data houses, and gives the end user flexibility sought by companies such as Air France to allow parameter selection (mask angle setting, route mode selection etc) and the choice of delivery method.

27th May 2008

DW upgrades FAS Data Block Tool

DW is currently implementing an upgrade to the FAS Data Block Tool released last year for EUROCONTROL (see here). The upgrade includes the addition of some key enhancements such as:

• Password protection
• Provision of test documentation in order that the tool can undergo State validation processes
• Binary file input/output capability

22nd May 2008

DW undertakes Runway Incursion Study

DW is currently developing a study for EUROCONTROL, The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, to update the understanding of causal and contributory factors to runway incursions. DW is working closely with its partner NATS who are providing the runway incursion database, safety questionnaires and data analysis capability. The aim of the study is to raise awareness of any significant changes that may lead to further measures to prevent runway incursions.

The last study was completed in 2003 and so a deeper understanding of how runway incursions are caused may further enhance safety. Today we know that Runway Incursions can quickly lead to runway accidents. We have had several in Europe in recent times so DW is pleased to continue to be involved in work to develop strategies to better support operational staff on the manoeuvering area.

DW is providing project management and technical support.

1st May 2008

DW to supply RAIM Prediction to South Korea

DW is pleased to announce a new joint venture with Integricom to develop and supply a GPS Performance Prediction Analysis and Fault Monitoring System on behalf of Korean Communications Engineering Co Ltd for the Korean Ministry of Construction and Transportation. This requires the development of monitoring software and hardware installation at the new ATC centre at Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea.

The software element will consist of:

• Local Area Monitor - continuously monitoring real-time availability of GNSS navigation services at the location of a GNSS receiver antenna
• Wide Area Monitor & RAIM Prediction - monitoring current GNSS performance and availability throughout a wide geographic area
• Receiver Monitoring - monitoring the operating status of GNSS receivers
• Input Data Recorder - recording all of the input GNSS data received and processed

DW will also oversee the installation of GNSS receiver and antenna as well as server hardware.

1st April 2008

DW supplies GRPS to Jeppesen

DW is pleased to announce the launch of its new GPS RAIM Prediction Service (GRPS) for Jeppesen. The service allows Jeppesen clients, from airline operators to general aviation, to obtain GPS coverage information for routes and at airports through its Flight Planning System.

RAIM information is needed by operators for pre-flight briefing if stand alone GPS is used for meeting the RNAV requirement. For this it is essential that 24 hour service 7 days a week can be provided with a high degree of reliability, guaranteed by DW.

DW supplies the RAIM prediction information via the internet, tailored for Jeppesen's requirements, to allow Jeppesen customers to request real time RAIM information on planned flights. GRPS also processes GPS NOTAMS and NANUs, evaluating and interpreting them in view of establishing their relevance to the RAIM availability.

In addition DW is providing help desk support with expertise in GNSS to provide the initial response to questions from users of the system.