Engineering Assisted Field Approval Completed By Universal Avionics

The first Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Flight Management System (FMS) installation in a Dassault Falcon 2000 aircraft has been completed by Universal Avionics authorized dealer Jet Aviation St. Louis. The installation replaced existing Universal Avionics FMSs with dual UNS-1Ew WAAS/SBAS-FMS and includes approval for Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV) approach capabilities.

Falcon 2000 File Photo

Certification approval for the installation was completed by way of an Engineering Assisted Field Approval, an FAA certification process that allows Universal Avionics WAAS/SBAS-FMS to be approved with LPV approach capabilities under a field approval (337) process. Using the Engineering Assisted Field Approval Process, operators of approved Universal Avionics FMSs may upgrade to WAAS and LPV capability during regular aircraft maintenance, as did this Falcon 2000 operator.

"Jet Aviation St. Louis and Universal Avionics partnered to deliver a first-of-its-kind system that allows this operator to access smaller airports with LPV approaches," said Skip Madsen, vice president MRO for Jet Aviation. "Together with Universal Avionics, Jet Aviation St. Louis put its experience and engineering capability into play and the upgrade went smoothly."

The upgrade package replaced the UNS-1C FMSs with UNS-1Ew WAAS/SBAS-FMSs, which provides the ability to fly RNAV (GPS) approach procedures down to LPV descent minima. Localizer with Vertical (LPV) approach procedures take advantage of the precision of WAAS GPS for both lateral and vertical guidance during the approach segment. Aircraft operators with WAAS GPS avionics can fly with RNP-like accuracy of 0.3 NM and minima as low as 200 ft with ½ mile visibility for "ILS-like" capability at airports without ILS navaids. Greater airport accessibility and improved safety in poor weather conditions are just some of the other advantages of utilizing Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) guidance.

FMI: www.uasc.com