Will Allow Pilots To Use GPS For Primary Nav

Rockwell Collins told ANN this week the company has launched its Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capable GPS-4000S. The new capability will be available in early 2007 -- and will give pilots the ability to use GPS as a primary means of navigation.

The GPS-4000S sensor and associated WAAS antenna will allow operators to utilize the GPS system, without reliance on other navigation equipment for en route operations and approach procedures authorized for WAAS, such as RNAV (GPS) charts. A WAAS receiver also streamlines preflight preparation by removing the requirement to run a computer-based prediction of Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) availability along the intended routes for US area navigation (RNAV) routes, Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), and Standard Terminal Arrivals (STARs).

"Just like the GPS-4000A, the GPS-4000S is fully integrated with the Flight Management Systems (FMS) in Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 systems to provide simple and intuitive operation,"  said Denny Helgeson, vice president and general manager of Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins.

Operators with Rockwell Collins' Flight Management Systems (FMS) who install a GPS-4000S will also be positioned to take advantage of localizer performance vertical guidance (LPV ) approach capability, upon availability of an FMS upgrade option which is scheduled for initial certification in late 2007.

The first customer for this capability is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which signed a contract with Rockwell Collins last November to add Wide Area Augmentation System functionality with localizer performance with vertical guidance (WAAS LPV) to the FAA's flight inspection aircraft.

WAAS improves the availability and integrity of GPS navigation by providing horizontal and vertical navigation for precision approach operations for all users at all locations. Additionally, WAAS provides service for all classes of aircraft in all flight operations, including en route navigation, airport departures, and airport arrivals. This includes precision landing approaches with minimums as low as 200 feet at locations throughout the National Airspace System.

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com