Spanish air navigation service provider Enaire has introduced satellite-based navigation instrument approach procedures at the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport.
The implementation enhances the efficiency of operations, as well as accessibility to Alicante Airport by providing it with additional instrument approach manoeuvres, said Enaire.
The use of Satellite-based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) means that approach procedures do not depend on ground-based navaids and is being phased in by airlines as aircraft are upgraded with the proper equipment, as an improvement or alternative to conventional approaches.
The new operation uses the European EGNOS satellite navigation system.
The new satellite-based manoeuvres improve performance compared to the VOR/DME non-precision approach instrument procedures currently used for RWY 28. It provides vertical guidance to aircraft in the final phase of the approach and brings the decision height – where the pilot must decide whether to continue or abort the landing – closer to the runway threshold, thus improving service continuity at the airport under low cloud ceiling conditions.
The recent implementation of satellite navigation procedures in Alicante is in addition to those already in place at the airports of Reus, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Valencia, Palma, Lleida-Alguaire, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and others as part of Enaire’s plan to implement Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) procedures.
In addition, the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport has a satellite-based ground augmentation system called GBAS, and precision instrument operations based on this system.