Increasing Focus On Environmentally Responsible Air Traffic Management Services

GE Aviation said Monday that it has acquired Naverus, a privately owned, Washington-based supplier of advanced Performance-based Navigation (PBN) services, including Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedure development, PBN procedure maintenance, operations support and consulting for airlines, air navigation service providers and airports.

“GE is committed to delivering solutions that help our customers operate aircraft more efficiently, with reduced environmental impact,” said Lorraine Bolsinger, president & CEO, GE Aviation Systems. “The acquisition of Naverus brings some of the best PBN technology to GE Aviation’s Systems business, further expanding our commitment to deliver environmental results for our customers. We are delighted that Naverus is joining our team today.”

Naverus’ RNP technology, combined with GE’s existing suite of avionics and flight management systems, enables GE to better address customers’ needs for air traffic management service solutions.

Naverus’ RNP technology can help airlines reduce flight time, carbon emissions and community noise on both approach and departure. RNP technology is fundamental to the transition from existing ground-based, voice-controlled air traffic management to time- and space-based digital systems. This transition represents the future of air traffic management and is a key focus of the FAA “NextGen” and Eurocontrol “SESAR” initiatives.

“This is great news for Naverus and our customers,” said Naverus CEO Steve Forte. “Customers will continue to benefit from the same expertise and service for which Naverus is known, while the strength of GE provides a platform for future innovation and growth.”

RNP procedures are one of few services in the aerospace industry that simultaneously improve fuel efficiency, aircraft emissions, community noise, system capacity, and airline productivity. By working with airline partners and government officials around the world, GE is committed to improving air traffic management through its ecomagination effort.

“In a continued challenging economic climate, GE is able to provide air traffic management solutions that promote greater asset utilization, reduced fuel burn and better use of airport infrastructure,” continued Bolsinger.

The world's first RNP procedures were flown in southeast Alaska in 1996. In February 2003, Alaska Airlines pilots Steve Fulton, Hal Andersen, and entrepreneur Dan Gerrity, founded Naverus to provide RNP and other PBN solutions to a broader constituency. Since then, Naverus has successfully developed and deployed hundreds of RNP procedures worldwide. GE and Naverus have collaborated in the past, providing PBN solutions using GE’s advanced flight management systems.

FMI: www.geae.com