Honeywell has been selected by the FAA to provide development, manufacturing, airport installation, training and support for the new satellite-based precision approach and landing system known as the Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS). With contract options, the program could exceed $350 million over the life of the program; the initial value of the contract is $16.7 million.

"Honeywell's satellite-based navigation technology will enable the FAA's LAAS program to utilize airspace more efficiently, plus provide new precision approach procedures," said John Oelschlaeger, Director of Honeywell's Satellite Landing Systems Business. "This will result in improved air travel safety and reduced flight delays for the flying public, as well as increased operational capacity for airports."

Vas Ist LAAS?

The Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) is an augmentation to GPS that focuses its service on the airport area (approximately a 20-30 mile radius). It broadcasts its correction message via a very high frequency (VHF) radio data link from a ground-based transmitter. LAAS will yield the extremely high accuracy, availability, and integrity necessary for Category I, II, and III precision approaches, and will provide the ability for more flexible, curved approach paths. LAAS demonstrated accuracy is less than 1 meter in both the horizontal and vertical axis.

Traditional navigation aids provide coverage for single runway ends only and sometimes have installation and frequency availability constraints. LAAS ground stations alleviate these constraints and a single LAAS can provide coverage for all runway ends at most airports where installed.

Honeywell will finalize the system integrity design before initiating the build, installation and support of 10 LAAS ground facilities at nine FAA test centers and major airports across North America. These include:

• William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, N.J.
• Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City (two systems)
• Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tenn.
• Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston
• Juneau International Airport, Juneau, Alaska
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle
• Honeywell's engineering facility in Coon Rapids, Minn.

The technology is manufactured by Honeywell's Defense & Space Electronic Systems, a Minneapolis-based division of the company's Aerospace group. Work is scheduled to begin on the project this year. The first system is scheduled to be operation by late 2006.

FMI: www.honeywell.com