GPS World, April 2014

THE SYSTEM Next Gen SBAS Will Be a Multi Constellation Affair Plans to harness Galileo and other satnav systems for next generation satellite augmentation systems for aviation and other high performance uses took a step forward at the 126th Satellite Based Augmentation Systems SBAS Interoperability Working Group IWG in New Delhi India in February with plans to move to a multi constellation design adding Galileo BeiDou and GLONASS systems in the post 2020 era International experts began converging on a standard message definition for the L5 channel of the planned second generation SBAS systems which will utilize dual frequency multi constellation signals Two solutions had been put forward one by ESA based on work by European industry and one from the U S Federal Aviation Administration and Stanford University explained ESAs Didier Flament co chair of the IWG A single definition coordinated between both bodies has been presented combining the benefits of both solutions The formal IWG review and approval loop has now been started with the objective of finalizing it for Septembers IWG meeting The aim is to have it ready to submit to the official international SBAS standardization bodies the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics as soon as October GAGAN to the Mix The meeting also marked the significant progress made by Indias own SBAS system GAGAN which underwent its final stability test in summer 2013 followed by its safety certification in December At this point GAGAN was declared certified for non precision approach users followed by its safety of life service being formally offered to civil aviation users on February 14 SBAS Services Worldwide GAGAN is the fourth certified SBAS to enter service worldwide Europe has the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service EGNOS which was designed and built by ESA then turned over for operation by the European Satellite Service Provider ESSP overseen by the European GNSS Agency GSA both of whom also participated in the meeting ESA retains responsibility for the future evolution of EGNOS The U S has the Wide Area Augmentation System WAAS developed and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration with an extension over Canada called CWAAS Canadian WAAS WAAS celebrated its 10th anniversary of operational life in July 2013 Japan has the Multi functional Satellite Augmentation System MSAS developed and operated by Japans Civil Aviation Bureau Japan is discussing plans to merge this capability with its new home grown satnav system QZSS Along with GAGAN the meeting covered the progress made by the other SBAS systems under definition or development the Russian SDCM Chinese SNAS and Korean K SBAS The next IWG meeting will take place in September in Tampa Florida www gpsworld com April 2014 GPS World 17