News Release

Flyinggroup qualified to fly LPV approaches

Flyinggroup has become the first business aviation company in Belgium qualified to fly LPV approaches.

For GPS approaches, technology has evolved towards LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance): based upon GPS, a safety-of-life enhanced signal service enabled by EGNOS in Europe (or WAAS in the USA, and/or several other space-based systems worldwide) allows aircraft to perform even more precise three-dimensionally guided GPS approaches, hence to lower minima, thereby rendering air navigation safer.

EGNOS comprises three satellites and a network of 40 ground stations that sharpen the original GPS signal, and allow aircraft to perform near-precision approaches using vertical guidance. Thus, a combination of onboard avionics, procedures and pilot training enable LPV approaches. In turn, this helps to reduce flight delays, diversions or cancellations and allows airports (especially remote and regional) to increase capacity, cut operating costs, and reduce CO2 emissions. It is a suitable alternative for regional, corporate and general aviation operators working in remote areas, as well as for small airports that cannot afford ground-based instrument approach systems using expensive radio signals and lighting arrays, to enable safe landings in inclement weather. In this way, Flyinggroup aircraft are also able to perform more precise landings on airports with short runways.

An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) statement issued several years ago, urged the world to implement LPV by 2016. By now, nations are implementing space-based LPV procedures at a high pace, with a goal of EU-wide coverage by 2018. EASA and international regulators’ guidance has led to the adoption of a regulatory framework necessary for implementing LPV procedures. Flyinggroup quickly implemented the GPS and LPV capability: 95% of its fleet is GPS and EGNOS-capable. Furthermore, its crews are all well-trained and qualified and the applicable NAA ops approvals have all been obtained. Flyinggroup welcomes the availability of both GPS approaches and LPV at its home base Antwerp Airport.