European GNSS Agency

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, ESSP, ATR and Airbus, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Flight Event - video

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

Media note:This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, Airbus and ATR, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

Media note:This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

Since its certification for civil aviation in 2011, EGNOS – the European satellite-based augmentation system – has been making flights in Europe safer, greener and more efficient. To celebrate this achievement and further promote EGNOS, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in collaboration with the European Commission, recently invited the media and European aviation stakeholders for a unique EGNOS Flight Event in Toulouse.

Today, over 140 airports in 15 countries across Europe benefit from EGNOS – with many more preparing for implementation. 171 LPV (localizer performance with vertical guidance) and 86 BARO approaches are already certified for use.

To highlight this impact, the EGNOS Flight Event, organised in collaboration with the European Commission, Airbus and ATR, brought together aviation media and other sector stakeholders for a comprehensive briefing and demonstration of EGNOS, how it works and its significant benefits for the aviation sector. Along with flight demonstrations, the event assembled a unique array of EGNOS-experienced players – from pilots to operators, service providers and air traffic managers – to discuss how EGNOS is reshaping the future of air transportation in Europe.

Across the Board Benefits

Commercial, business and general aviation are all key market segments for EGNOS. For example, business and general aviation operators need to get to meetings as quickly and efficiently as possible, often requiring landing at smaller airports where Instrument Landing System (ILS) or other expensive ground-based navigation aids are simply not feasible. Thus, the implementation of EGNOS-based procedures at these airports significantly improves accessibility. “EGNOS, Europe's first satellite navigation system, already has a good success story to tell,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “EGNOS delivers continuous integrity protection in compliance with ICAO standards, allowing Cat I approaches with over 99 % availability. Today, 142 airports across Europe are benefitting from EGNOS – and the number is growing steadily."

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Agency has the capacity to support airports and operators wanting to benefit from EGNOS. For example, this year the Agency has allotted €6 million to co-fund projects to implement EGNOS in aviation. A similar amount had also been allocated in 2014.

Airborne with EGNOS

Demonstrations of EGNOS included a briefing on EGNOS for rotorcraft and with the presentation of the GARDEN project. The project is using EGNOS to enable increased safety and better access for helicopters, for example, enabling air ambulances to access city centre hospitals. Participants were also given a first-hand look at EGNOS implementation in the cockpit of an Airbus H175 rotorcraft.

EGNOS in action was demonstrated by a series of flights using EGNOS for landing procedures with an ATR 42-600 turboprop, which was equipped with additional avionics in the main cabin so invited media could witness the technology at work. The flight demonstration took off from the Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, the venue for the EGNOS event, for a 15 minute circuit around Toulouse beforedemonstrating an EGNOS LPV approach and landing.

EGNOS for A350

A highlight on the tarmac was the Airbus A350WXB. Participants were given a tour of this new, state-of-the-art wide-bodied airliner – including a simulation of an EGNOS-enabled LPV landing in the cockpit. Airbus test pilot Jean-Christophe Lair described the A350’s new Satellite-based Landing System (SLS) that works with Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as EGNOS. This is the first time such a system has been installed on a wide body airliner and will be supplied as a standard feature to customers.

According to Lair, EGNOS is fully integrated into a common, harmonised landing system interface on the A350 – the SLS. This allows the pilot to fly precision approaches like an ILS with geometrical vertical guidance down to 200 feet. This new navigation system will provide Airbus operators a wider range of solutions to optimise operations and increase accessibility without any compromise to safety.

EGNOS Expansion

The potential for expansion of EGNOS/SBAS is huge both in terms of global coverage and potential for use in Europe.

GSA Head of EGNOS Exploitation, Jean-Marc Piéplu, outlined the future upgrade of the system from the current Version 2 to EGNOS Version 3. “Version three will feature new capabilities, including dual frequency and dual-constellation with both GPS and Galileo,” he said.

This extension could potentially widen EGNOS/SBAS global coverage for aviation to over 90%. When asked about the timescale for this extension of coverage, Piéplu indicated that if the political will was there to implement, then this could be accomplished in 10 years as there were no outstanding technical issues.

According to International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Association (IAOPA) Senior Vice President Martin Robinson, there is a huge potential for growth in Europe. Currently there are 4,649 aerodromes in Europe and some 50,000 general aviation aircraft operating. Compared to the US, only a fraction of these are SBAS enabled. In the US, the larger uptake of WAAS is due to a deliberate government-led industrial policy.

“Europe still lags behind the United States and there's definitely room for growth,” said Robinson. “EGNOS will help to provide greater access to aerodromes throughout Europe and improve safety – but we need to be quicker if we are to realise these benefits sooner.”

More Information

Media note:This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

See Also

Map of EGNOS enabled airports

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) takes part in the General Assembly of the Council of European Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE), laying out the benefits of EGNSS for the surveying community and helping to launch a dedicated special prize for EGNSS-related achievements in the CLGE student contest.

Speaking at the CLGE’s 2015 General Assembly in Limassol, Cyprus, GSA’s Market Development Team spelled out the new opportunities that EGNOS and Galileo can provide for surveyors. Of particular focus was the essential role that surveying data plays for a wide range of businesses – across the private and public sectors and from land, water, marine, construction built resources to heritage, tourism, transport, planning, environment, and more.

    Also read: EGNOS for Surveying GNSS Market Report

Since the 1980s, traditional surveying techniques have gradually been replaced by satellite positioning technologies based on GPS. Now, with EGNOS, and with the impending arrival of Galileo and its proposed interoperability with GPS, the precision and accuracy of survey- and mapping-related operations will be further enhanced, while those same operations will be easier to carry out.

Expressions of Interest

Participants at the General Assembly noted a “very high interest” in Galileo. A sizeable part of the reference network station providers confirm that they are Galileo-ready and are looking forward to the signal. Additionally most surveying-related GNSS receivers are also now Galileo-ready.

Other EGNSS-related topics of interest at the meeting included so-called ‘smart cities’, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and their use of satellite data, and proactive disaster management.

    Watch: EGNOS for Surveying Video

The event proved to be an excellent opportunity for the GSA to not only raises awareness of Europe’s satellite navigation programmes among the surveying community, but also to gather new requirements from this important user group.

The CLGE represents and promotes the interests of its members in both Europe’s private and public sectors and it acts as a permanent forum for European geodetic surveyors committed to European cooperation. Its activities aim to promote the exchange of technical, scientific, educational and organisational know-how among Member States, along with providing assistance to governments, national associations and EU institutions.

More Information

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) takes part in the General Assembly of the Council of European Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE), laying out the benefits of EGNSS for the surveying community and helping to launch a dedicated special prize for EGNSS-related achievements in the CLGE student contest.

Speaking at the CLGE’s 2015 General Assembly in Limassol, Cyprus, GSA’s Market Development Team spelled out the new opportunities that EGNOS and Galileo can provide for surveyors. Of particular focus was the essential role that surveying data plays for a wide range of businesses – across the private and public sectors and from land, water, marine, construction built resources to heritage, tourism, transport, planning, environment, and more.

    Also read: EGNOS for Surveying GNSS Market Report

Since the 1980s, traditional surveying techniques have gradually been replaced by satellite positioning technologies based on GPS. Now, with EGNOS, and with the impending arrival of Galileo and its proposed interoperability with GPS, the precision and accuracy of survey- and mapping-related operations will be further enhanced, while those same operations will be easier to carry out.

Expressions of Interest

Participants at the General Assembly noted a “very high interest” in Galileo. A sizeable part of the reference network station providers confirm that they are Galileo-ready and are looking forward to the signal. Additionally most surveying-related GNSS receivers are also now Galileo-ready.

Other EGNSS-related topics of interest at the meeting included so-called ‘smart cities’, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and their use of satellite data, and proactive disaster management.

    Watch: EGNOS for Surveying Video

The event proved to be an excellent opportunity for the GSA to not only raises awareness of Europe’s satellite navigation programmes among the surveying community, but also to gather new requirements from this important user group.

The CLGE represents and promotes the interests of its members in both Europe’s private and public sectors and it acts as a permanent forum for European geodetic surveyors committed to European cooperation. Its activities aim to promote the exchange of technical, scientific, educational and organisational know-how among Member States, along with providing assistance to governments, national associations and EU institutions.

More Information

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) recently released 2015 GNSS Market Report proves to be a hit.

As part of last month’s Munich Satellite Navigation Summit, the GSA launched the latest edition of its GNSS Market Report. The launch event included an overview of both the European GNSS market and the latest trends, along with a panel discussion that included insight from industry experts representing many of the market segments covered by the Report. In the month since its publication, the Report has been downloaded 10,000 times.

    Also read: A Glance into the GNSS Crystal Ball

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Market Report is meant to be a go-to-source of information beneficial to the entire GNSS value chain and capable of helping companies improve their market share. “This latest edition of the Market Report serves as a comprehensive source of knowledge and information on the global GNSS market, featuring separate sections on each specific market segment,” he said. New to this edition is the segment of Timing and Synchronization.

According to the Report, there are currently 4 billion GNSS devices on the global market – a number expected to continue to grow both in volume and revenue. The report notes that the Location Based Services (LBS) sector continues to take the lion’s share of the market, followed by road  – in line with a general trend of GNSS devices being driven by the mass market.

    Also read: GNSS Market Report 2015 – Exciting Times for European GNSS

As to Europe’s share of the GNSS market, European industry currently generates more than a quarter of global GNSS revenues. “Granted, it’s only natural that the US owns the largest market share since they started earlier and have many ‘big’ companies operating in the field,” noted Calini. “But because of Europe’s abundance of SMEs, we have been able to steadily increase our market share.” He went on to say that SMEs play a key role in the European market, noting that seven of the top 10 component manufacturers are European companies.

More Information

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) recently released 2015 GNSS Market Report proves to be a hit.

As part of last month’s Munich Satellite Navigation Summit, the GSA launched the latest edition of its GNSS Market Report. The launch event included an overview of both the European GNSS market and the latest trends, along with a panel discussion that included insight from industry experts representing many of the market segments covered by the Report. In the month since its publication, the Report has been downloaded 10,000 times.

    Also read: A Glance into the GNSS Crystal Ball

According to GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, the Market Report is meant to be a go-to-source of information beneficial to the entire GNSS value chain and capable of helping companies improve their market share. “This latest edition of the Market Report serves as a comprehensive source of knowledge and information on the global GNSS market, featuring separate sections on each specific market segment,” he said. New to this edition is the segment of Timing and Synchronization.

According to the Report, there are currently 4 billion GNSS devices on the global market – a number expected to continue to grow both in volume and revenue. The report notes that the Location Based Services (LBS) sector continues to take the lion’s share of the market, followed by road  – in line with a general trend of GNSS devices being driven by the mass market.

    Also read: GNSS Market Report 2015 – Exciting Times for European GNSS

As to Europe’s share of the GNSS market, European industry currently generates more than a quarter of global GNSS revenues. “Granted, it’s only natural that the US owns the largest market share since they started earlier and have many ‘big’ companies operating in the field,” noted Calini. “But because of Europe’s abundance of SMEs, we have been able to steadily increase our market share.” He went on to say that SMEs play a key role in the European market, noting that seven of the top 10 component manufacturers are European companies.

European GNSS Agency (GSA) Executive Director Carlo des Dorides meets with EUROCONTROL Director-General Frank Brenner and Director Pan-European Single Sky  Adriaan Heerbaart to discuss common concerns and new cooperative activities.

At a recent meeting in Prague between the GSA and EUROCONTROL all parties agreed that it makes good sense for the GSA to work more closely with EUROCONTROL. The GSA is responsible for the exploitation of the European GNSS systems and EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, is the manager of the pan-European air traffic management network. The two bodies share many of the same objectives, in particular the spelling out of implementation policies for European satellite navigation in the air traffic management and aviation sectors.

With this is mind, following the recommendations on a joint EUROCONTROL-EU Task Force on GNSS of 28 June 2013 and the exchange of letters for the formalisation of the GSA-EUROCONTROL collaboration in September 2014, the two bodies have endeavoured to elaborate an effective cooperation mechanism which was officially formalised in April 2015 with the signature of a Framework Partnership agreement and a First Specific Grant agreement.

The latest meeting, held at GSA headquarters in Prague, represents a key first step for the partnership. This round of talks also brought in the Single-European Sky, a European Commission initiative through which the design, management and regulation of airspace is to be coordinated throughout the European Union.

Essentials

Key topics discussed in Prague include:

The aviation-specific environment and its requirements

•    The exploitation of EGNOS and Galileo
•    Security for critical aviation systems
•    Steps for a long term cooperation
   
EUROCONTROL Director General Frank Brenner emphasised the excellent teamwork that has already taken place. “All project managers and team members are more than willing to move the cooperation forward,” he said. Carlo des Dorides also pledged the GSA’s full commitment to supporting the partnership.

In concrete terms, the two partners discussed the coordination of the activities in the following fields:

•    Area 1: Aviation users’ needs, to support the definition of mission-level requirements for EGNOS
•    Area 2: The operational introduction of European GNSS services, EGNOS and Galileo, for aviation in the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area
•    Area 3: Advice on regulatory and standardisation aspects, including spectrum
•    Area 4: Support to European GNSS development and exploitation activities
•    Area 5: Coordination of R&D for GNSS in aviation
•    Area 6: The inclusion of EGNOS and Galileo in future GNSS user terminals for aviation

Good for Everyone

The potential benefits of GNSS for aviation are by now well known. With its ability to augment existing GNSS signals, EGNOS offers enhanced vertical precision and integrity, i.e. a ‘guaranteed signal’. This means it allows for safer approaches at difficult airstrips or under adverse meteorological conditions.

With EGNOS, optimised and even curved approaches are now on the table, meaning the potential to increase air transport capacity, save fuel and lower noise in populated areas – all to the benefit of airports, airline operators, flying passengers and citizens on the ground.

                              Also read: EGNOS – The Smart Choice for Aviation

In addition, EGNOS-enabled receivers are widely available, and the system is fully compatible with the US Satellite Based Augmentation System, WAAS, and with Japan’s MSAS. With an on-board EGNOS receiver and an adapted approach procedure, no additional investments in ground infrastructure or maintenance costs are necessary. EGNOS may also make it possible for some airports to eliminate expensive ground-based navigation aids and other infrastructure.

By all accounts, the meeting in Prague was rated a success. Marked by a constructive and cooperative spirit, all three parties welcomed the opportunity to embark on a long-term cooperative partnership.

Given the potential benefits of European GNSS for the aviation sector, this is clearly good news for everyone.

More Information

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

New app features the results of GSA-supported GNSS R&D initiatives, available for free download for iOS and Android.

To highlight the tangible results coming out of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) and serving as inspiration for those participating in the Horizon 2020 (H2020) period, the GSA launches its new EGNSS Research and Development (R&D) application.

The FP7 and H2020 programmes, supported by the GSA, aim to support the development of EGNSS applications in key market segments.  Both are geared towards accelerating the development of a European market for satellite navigation applications and creating new opportunities for European industry.

“The app is an excellent opportunity for the GNSS community to take stock in the lessons learned during the FP7 funding period and set our sights on future R&D initiatives,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The application’s segment-specific search feature responds to the varied needs of our users, providing them with easily accessible and relevant information at their fingertips.”

In addition to the search function, des Dorides notes that the demographics included with each project can help users identify opportunities for partnerships across segments and regions, and create virtual R&D networks.

The FP7 programmes had a considerably positive impact on the GNSS market. Within the frame of the projects, 45 products were developed, and 80 prototypes were tested and validated during the 115 demonstrations that took place.

          Learn More: FP7 Results Brochure

Today, Horizon 2020 is bringing new opportunities for GNSS applications development.  Information on the 25 projects granted in the first H2020 Galileo call is already included in the application, and early next year it will be updated to include the 2nd call portfolio of projects – so stay tuned!

The App is available for free download from the iTunes and Google Play stores.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

New app features many successes of GSA-supported GNSS R&D initiatives, available for free download for iPhone and android devices.

To highlight the tangible results coming out of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) and serving as inspiration for those participating in the Horizon 2020 (H2020) period, the GSA launches its new EGNSS Research and Development (R&D) application.

The FP7 and H2020 programmes, supported by the GSA, aim to support the development of EGNSS applications in key market segments.  Both are geared towards accelerating the development of a European market for satellite navigation applications and creating new opportunities for European industry.

“The app is an excellent opportunity for the GNSS community to take stock in the lessons learned during the FP7 funding period and set our sights on future R&D initiatives,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The application’s segment-specific search feature responds to the varied needs of our users, providing them with easily accessible and relevant information at their fingertips.”

In addition to the search function, des Dorides notes that the demographics included with each project can help users identify opportunities for partnerships across segments and regions, and create virtual R&D networks.

The FP7 programmes had a considerably positive impact on the GNSS market. Within the frame of the projects, 45 products were developed, and 80 prototypes were tested and validated during the 115 demonstrations that took place.

          Learn More: FP7 Results Brochure

Today, Horizon 2020 is bringing new opportunities for GNSS applications development.  Information on the 25 projects granted in the first H2020 Galileo call is already included in the application, and early next year it will be updated to include the 2nd call portfolio of projects – so stay tuned!

The App is available for free download from the iTunes and Google Play stores.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) supported e-KnoT project to further strengthen the interaction between education, research and industry with a new voucher programme aimed at helping companies seeking high-level scientific support.

The three-year, Horizon 2020 funded e-KnoT project aims to tighten the links between research and industry by supporting new and innovative ideas in the area of GNSS. It will achieve this by offering consultancy vouchers. European companies looking for high-level academic staff can redeem the vouchers for short-term and specialized expertise from participating academic partners.

   Also read: Tying Together GNSS Education, Research and Industry

Services provided by these partners cover assessment of an innovative idea, review of a new concept, analysis of blocking points, and more. They can be diverse and tailored to each company seeking assistance.

European companies can also work with GNSS students by providing an internship opportunity, training a post-graduate student, or co-funding a Ph.D student.

Any company operating in an EU country or a country associated with H2020 is welcome to apply. If accepted, short-term consultancy services will be provided from one of the four academic partners without any financial contribution required.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 29 May 2015. For more details on applications, terms, and conditions, please visit www.eknotproject.eu

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) supported e-KnoT project to further strengthen the interaction between education, research and industry with a new voucher programme aimed at helping companies seeking high-level scientific support.

The three-year, Horizon 2020 funded e-KnoT project aims to tighten the links between research and industry by supporting new and innovative ideas in the area of GNSS. It will achieve this by offering consultancy vouchers. European companies looking for high-level academic staff can redeem the vouchers for short-term and specialized expertise from participating academic partners.

   Also read: Tying Together GNSS Education, Research and Industry

Services provided by these partners cover assessment of an innovative idea, review of a new concept, analysis of blocking points, and more. They can be diverse and tailored to each company seeking assistance.

European companies can also work with GNSS students by providing an internship opportunity, training a post-graduate student, or co-funding a Ph.D student.

Any company operating in an EU country or a country associated with H2020 is welcome to apply. If accepted, short-term consultancy services will be provided from one of the four academic partners without any financial contribution required.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 29 May 2015. For more details on applications, terms, and conditions, please visit www.eknotproject.eu

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

Dr Chaz Dixon, Technical Director, Positioning, Navigation & Timing at Satellite Applications Catapult

What is the Satellite Applications Catapult and what does it do?

The Satellite Applications Catapult is an independent, not-for-profit, innovation and technology company created to foster growth across the UK economy through the exploitation of space technology. In essence, we help further the GSA’s mission here in the UK by helping organisations make use of and benefit from satellite technologies by bringing together multi-disciplinary teams to generate ideas and solutions in an open innovation environment.

Launched at the GSA-organised European Space Solutions conference in December 2012, it was formally established in March 2013 in Harwell near Oxford by Innovate UK. Today it is one of a network of centres dedicated to accelerating the uptake of emerging technologies and driving economic growth.

          Also read: What Can Galileo Do for Me?

One of our key roles is to inspire others to innovate and support the development of new commercial products and services. Recent innovations are offering new opportunities for SMEs and private enterprise, including the falling cost of access to space, new low-cost satellite constellations, improved usability and accessibility and timeliness of data. These opportunities require new people to engage with the sector to capitalise and develop new businesses and ways of working.

Can you give us an example of innovatory space applications that use GNSS, in particular Galileo or EGNOS, that the Catapult is involved in?

Currently we are working on the GEMNet project together with Ordnance Survey, the UK’s mapping agency, themselves also experts in GNSS. GEMNet’s ambition is to enable UK industry to create innovative and resilient position, navigation and timing solutions. Its primary objective is to discover the extent and nature of GNSS interference and support industry in developing appropriate solutions that mitigate the effect of this interference upon GNSS receivers.

The project has several objectives including:

• Collating compelling and independent evidence of interference on GNSS receivers by pooling existing knowledge, as well as collecting data during the project
• Developing an early understanding of the impact of interference on GNSS end-users
• Engaging with targeted end-users and industry organisations to join future project phases

The Catapult leads the technical developments and integration on GEMNet and analyses the interference measurement results. Knowledge of these operational results will support focused industry and academic efforts to develop innovative threat mitigations and strategies appropriate to transport, critical infrastructure and many other applications. These threat mitigations include things like the use of Galileo’s multi-frequency services and potentially also the encrypted services of PRS to mitigate spoofing.

As space technology is always evolving, do you see some interesting applications still on the drawing board?

The GNSS sector is continuing the revolution first started by GPS many years ago. The new systems, such as Europe’s Galileo, will bring multi-frequency services and new signals that enhance accuracy and mitigate interference – ultimately improving positioning and timing performance for all users.

        Also read: British space sector looks forward to Galileo

The new encrypted services from Galileo PRS may start a new revolution in services that are still being imagined. If position (and time) reports were intrinsically reliable, what services would be improved? How could banking take advantage of authenticated location and time? How would this improve evidential services? If position could not be spoofed, how would autonomous cars take advantage?

Other exciting strands of development include the evolution of GNSS receivers to adopt multi-system, multi-frequency capabilities to meet real user needs, and the integration of GNSS with other sensors for improved robustness and for indoor operations.

Illegal, Unregulated and Unregistered fishing project (IUU)

The Catapult collaborated with Pew Charitable Trusts to develop a demonstrator platform that utilises satellite acquired data to identify illegal fishing. This led to a joint announcement of Project Eyes on the Seas, which will initially launch a ‘Virtual Watch Room’ monitoring the waters surrounding Easter Island and the Pacific island nation of Palau.

In the 2015 budget, the Government also identified the Pitcairn Islands to become the world’s largest fully protected marine reserve. This monitoring capability and scope is expected to increase rapidly, with potential need for an operational subsidiary to effectively segment the business and create opportunities for spinouts.

Urban Planning Tool

The Catapult has developed a unique Urban Planning Service for Milton Keynes Council, using Earth observation (EO) data to efficiently identify the progress of approved building work. The innovative system provides Milton Keynes with a tool for automating planning validation tasks across a large geographic area using satellite data. This is part of addressing the growing challenge facing UK cities around economic development and sustainability.

Recognising an opportunity to make better use of satellite data to address its urban planning activities and reduce the high resource impact previously needed to identify progress of approved building work, Milton Keynes approached the Catapult to provide independent expert advice and support needed to harness EO data as a valuable information source. Through its Data Discovery Hub, the Catapult can easily identify and access a broad range of satellite data that can be used for evidence-based decision making, information gathering and environment monitoring.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European Parliament votes in favour of a new regulation requiring all newly manufactured cars to be equipped with ‘eCall’ from April 2018.

With a vote this week, the European Parliament is helping to save lives by making eCall a reality. As a result, all newly manufactured cars intended for sale in the EU must be equipped with eCall. The regulation goes into effect as of April 2018.

With the eCall system, when a serious accident occurs the vehicle automatically dials ‘112’, Europe's single emergency number. A call can also be triggered manually, for example by someone witnessing a serious accident.

         Also read: A safer drive empowered by European GNSS

Once the eCall link is established, the system immediately communicates the vehicle's exact location to emergency services, as well as the time when the incident took place and the direction of travel (of particular importance on motorways). The system works even if the driver is unconscious or unable to operate the system him- or herself.

The EU has supported the development of eCall from its inception, first through the eMerge project and later, for the deployment phase, through the HeERO project – both of which were supported by the GSA. For four years, HeERO phase 1 in 2011-2013 and HeERO phase 2 in 2013-2014, 15 countries worked to put in place the interoperable and harmonised eCall system.

Real Progress

The European Commission first proposed the eCall regulation in June 2013.The text approved by the Parliament now needs to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will enter into force 20 days after that.

        Also read: European GNSS success story: eCall

Crucially, says the European Commission, eCall will only transmit data that is absolutely necessary in case of an accident, thus insuring the right to privacy of users. Information will only be transmitted from the car in the event of a severe accident and will not be stored any longer than necessary.

The Commission says once implemented, eCall will make sure help gets to accident victims as quickly as possible. According to EU estimates, it could save hundreds of lives every year.

Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for Digital Society and Economy, has said, “eCall is a perfect example of an EU-supported project that has developed technological solutions to save people's lives. The legislation now allows the delivery of real benefits of digital technology.”

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

Innovative companies with new ideas for using data from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) could get a share of prizes totalling EUR 1 million and connect with leading business incubators to bring their idea to market.

This is the attractive reward on offer to the winners of the 2015 European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) and Copernicus Masters, which kicked off at the UK House of Commons in London on 21 April.

The GSA Special Prize

In addition to being a supporting partner, for the seventh consecutive year the GSA will be sponsoring the GSA Special Prize for the Most Promising Application for European GNSS. The objective of the Special Prize is to support the development of applications that rely on both EGNOS and Galileo, while also providing economic and social benefits.

“We think this competition is a good way to bring the advantages of the European GNSS to the attention of the innovation community,” said GSA Deputy Head of Market Development Fiammetta Diani. “Unlocking innovation is one of the GSA’s core tasks, and we have seen a growing interest in the stakeholder community for the GSA Special Prize.”

        Also read: And the winner is…

Proposals for the GSA Special Prize should address specific business applications or have a demonstrated impact on social issues. The winner will have the opportunity to develop their idea at an incubation centre of their choice within the EU28 for six months, with the possibility of a further six months according to progress.

Transformative

Last year’s competition received over 600 business cases from about 50 companies and built up a network of around 100 partners from research and industry, as well as an expert network of nearly 300 professionals. “Transforming high potential business cases into new products and services to generate economic growth perfectly fits the mission of these competitions,” said Thorstend Rudolph, Managing Director of Anwendungszentrum Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO), organisers of the conference. 

A case in point is iGeolise, who won the UK leg of the ESNC competition in 2012 with its Travel Time Platform idea, which uses satellite data to help users find content on the web by the time it takes to travel there, rather than by distance. “The competition was fundamental in the growth of our business,” said iGeolise co-founder and director Charlie Davies. “As a result of winning the UK leg, we received press coverage and were contacted by a major customer that we had wanted to work with but couldn’t get through to. Now they’re one of our largest clients.”

“Sometimes it’s a challenge when you’re a very small company, trying to grow, to build sales and get investment,” he adds. “This competition can certainly make it a lot easier – it helped us take a simple idea and drive it into the market.”

Expanding Constellations, Expanding Opportunities

As the Galileo satellite constellation continues to expand, efforts to promote corresponding applications will become increasingly important. For this reason, competition organizers are looking forward to seeing the creative and innovative GNSS-based applications submitted this year.

The ESNC offers a prize pool worth EUR 1 million, including cash prizes and in-kind services. All winners of the 30 regional and special prizes will be in the running for the overall prize of EUR 20 000 and a six-month incubation programme (which can be extended to one year) in a region of their choice. The deadline for applying is 30 June.

Further information on this year’s prizes, partners and terms of participation can be found on the ESNC website.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

As European Space Policy – and EU satellite navigation systems in particular – shift from technology and systems development to services and applications, the need for an appropriate regulatory and legal framework is clear.

There are many questions to be explored in the interaction between space policy, the promotion of space services and applications and the law. For example:

• Should national legislation for licensing commercial space activities be more streamlined?
• Can open data policies stimulate downstream markets, or could they even have adverse effects on existing service providers?
• Are Service Level Agreements the right tool for guaranteeing performance of space services?
• How can liability risks from space services be covered by the insurance market?

These questions and others were addressed earlier this year at the first International Legal Symposium in Tutzing, Germany. The event brought together policy, legal and economic experts from the European GNSS Agency (GSA), EU institutions, national space agencies, industry associations and academia. It provided a platform for analysing the suitability of existing statutes and the need for future laws and regulations governing the provision of space services and applications in Europe.

“Europe’s flagship projects, including Galileo, are designed to provide services to a broad range of users and to increase the competitiveness of European industry and economic growth,” said BHO Legal Partner Ingo Baumann, setting the stage during an opening address. “However, the successful introduction of new space services and applications requires an adequate and reliable legal and regulatory framework.”

Galileo Legal Applications

The GSA presented its strategy for supporting the use of European GNSS in diverse market segments. In particular, the Agency highlighted the role of Galileo’s authentication signal in facilitating the use of GNSS positioning across a range of applications, including the enforcement of public laws and supporting policy initiatives.

Galileo will provide a portfolio of different services with varying levels of robustness and authentication. The Public Regulated Service (PRS), for example, will be the most robust and secure, but is reserved for governmental use. However, work is ongoing to offer Commercial Service (E6) authentication, and a basic level of authentication available via the free Open Service is also being considered.

“Potential applications of these signals with legal relevance could be in maritime and fisheries for monitoring restricted fishing areas, along with surveying,” said GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini. “In the future, location-based services could provide verifiable digital identity information or verify digital rights management issues.”

One application could be the next generation of digital tachograph. Tachographs are used to enforce driving time regulations for heavy goods vehicles and other commercial road vehicles in Europe. Amended EU legislation, which comes into force in 2018, proposes a new generation of GNSS enabled digital tachograph.

“GNSS signals will be used to register at least the start and end times and locations for journeys, enabling enhanced regulatory oversight,” added Calini. “This requires a GNSS signal that is robust and trusted in a legal sense, and an authenticated GNSS signal could be an ideal, low-cost and secure solution.”

Ensuring eCall’s data protection and privacy

Another significant GNSS application with clear legal implications is the eCall emergency response service. From 31 March 2018, all manufacturers of cars to be sold in Europe will be required to equip their new models with an in-vehicle GNSS-based eCall device. The wireless system will automatically trigger a distress signal to the 112-based eCall interoperable service in the event of an accident, using EGNOS and GALILEO to indicate the precise location of the incident.

    Also read: eCall closer to providing Europe with more efficient emergency services

Taking into account public concerns about privacy and data protection, vehicles equipped with the system will not be subject to constant tracking, and data on the location of the vehicle will be continuously erased. The eCall system remains dormant until either manually activated or automatically activated following a serious accident, therefore no tracking or transmission of data takes place during the normal operation of the system. Nor will any data be communicated to third parties without the specific consent of the vehicle owner.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

As European Space Policy – and EU satellite navigation systems in particular – shift from technology and systems development to services and applications, the need for an appropriate regulatory and legal framework is clear.

There are many questions to be explored in the interaction between space policy, the promotion of space services and applications and the law. For example:

• Should national legislation for licensing commercial space activities be more streamlined?
• Can open data policies stimulate downstream markets, or could they even have adverse effects on existing service providers?
• Are Service Level Agreements the right tool for guaranteeing performance of space services?
• How can liability risks from space services be covered by the insurance market?

These questions and others were addressed earlier this year at the first International Legal Symposium in Tutzing, Germany. The event brought together policy, legal and economic experts from the European GNSS Agency (GSA), EU institutions, national space agencies, industry associations and academia. It provided a platform for analysing the suitability of existing statutes and the need for future laws and regulations governing the provision of space services and applications in Europe.

“Europe’s flagship projects, including Galileo, are designed to provide services to a broad range of users and to increase the competitiveness of European industry and economic growth,” said BHO Legal Partner Ingo Baumann, setting the stage during an opening address. “However, the successful introduction of new space services and applications requires an adequate and reliable legal and regulatory framework.”

Galileo Legal Applications

The GSA presented its strategy for supporting the use of European GNSS in diverse market segments. In particular, the Agency highlighted the role of Galileo’s authentication signal in facilitating the use of GNSS positioning across a range of applications, including the enforcement of public laws and supporting policy initiatives.

Galileo will provide a portfolio of different services with varying levels of robustness and authentication. The Public Regulated Service (PRS), for example, will be the most robust and secure, but is reserved for governmental use. However, work is ongoing to offer Commercial Service (E6) authentication, and a basic level of authentication available via the free Open Service is also being considered.

“Potential applications of these signals with legal relevance could be in maritime and fisheries for monitoring restricted fishing areas, along with surveying,” said GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini. “In the future, location-based services could provide verifiable digital identity information or verify digital rights management issues.”

One application could be the next generation of digital tachograph. Tachographs are used to enforce driving time regulations for heavy goods vehicles and other commercial road vehicles in Europe. Amended EU legislation, which comes into force in 2018, proposes a new generation of GNSS enabled digital tachograph.

“GNSS signals will be used to register at least the start and end times and locations for journeys, enabling enhanced regulatory oversight,” added Calini. “This requires a GNSS signal that is robust and trusted in a legal sense, and an authenticated GNSS signal could be an ideal, low-cost and secure solution.”

Ensuring eCall’s data protection and privacy

Another significant GNSS application with clear legal implications is the eCall emergency response service. From 31 March 2018, all manufacturers of cars to be sold in Europe will be required to equip their new models with an in-vehicle GNSS-based eCall device. The wireless system will automatically trigger a distress signal to the 112-based eCall interoperable service in the event of an accident, using EGNOS and GALILEO to indicate the precise location of the incident.

    Also read: eCall closer to providing Europe with more efficient emergency services

Taking into account public concerns about privacy and data protection, vehicles equipped with the system will not be subject to constant tracking, and data on the location of the vehicle will be continuously erased. The eCall system remains dormant until either manually activated or automatically activated following a serious accident, therefore no tracking or transmission of data takes place during the normal operation of the system. Nor will any data be communicated to third parties without the specific consent of the vehicle owner.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

Recent talks between the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and rail and satellite experts discuss possible GNSS integration with Next Generation Train Control Project.

Rail and satellite experts recently met at the GSA headquarters in Prague to discuss the Next Generation Train Control project (NGTC) and possible European GNSS integration with railway signals.

         Also read: GNSS Market Report Rail

NGTC, coordinated by UNIFE, is made up of leading rail system signalling suppliers, mainline operators, infrastructure managers and urban rail operators. The GSA has been working with NGTC to provide consultation and advice when it comes to E-GNSS performance, and hopes to support the project further with the adoption of railways safety applications and such modern signalling systems as ERTMS. 

Ansaldo STS leads NGTC’s work with the GNSS, and the organizations are expected to continue working together throughout the course of the year.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).