Fri, Oct 22, 2004
Boyer says, "Let the Transition Begin"
By ANN Correspondent Rose Dorcey
In a joint press conference AOPA
President Phil Boyer joined Garmin representatives as they
introduced the Garmin Wide Area Augmentation System
(WAAS)-compatible GNS 480. Earlier this month, Garmin won the
first-ever certification for an LPV-capable avionics system,
clearing the way for WAAS to live up to its potential.
"Wherever I go, GA pilots want to know, 'How can we get an ILS
at our airport?'" said Boyer. "WAAS is the answer for providing
precision approaches to all of those airports where ILS just isn't
financially or technically possible. Now, with arrival of GPS units
that can be used for both lateral and vertical guidance, we truly
have a satellite-based navigation system that does everything for
the instrument-rated GA pilot that ILS does."
Ten years ago, Garmin was the first avionics manufacturer to
gain approval for Global Positioning System (GPS) approaches in IFR
conditions through its GPS 155. Garmin's newest navigator, GNS 480,
provides the next step in GPS technology - precise lateral and
vertical guidance. The GNS 480 is the first panel-mounted system
approved for Localizer-Precision with Vertical guidance (LPV)
approaches.
"In 1994, we proved that pilots could rely on satellite
navigation for IFR operations and that event changed the course of
aviation," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "We
believe certification of the GNS 480 for LPV approaches is equally
significant, because it provides pilots with primary GPS navigation
during all phases of flight and opens the possibility of shooting
an ILS-like approach into thousands of airports that are not
currently served by an ILS."
WAAS sensors receive the signal broadcast by GPS satellites,
correct any errors, and rebroadcast the corrected signals to
WAAS-enabled aircraft receivers, thereby enhancing the integrity,
accuracy, reliability, and safety of the already-highly-accurate
GPS signal. Approved today for installation in over 700
aircraft, the unit sells for $11,995.
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