GPS approaches.(Europe)(Required Navigation technology)(Brief article)

Airports International, November, 2006 by Hales-Dutton, Bruce

Thomas Cook Airlines has become the first UK carrier to gain Civil Aviation Authority approval to use GPS-based RNAV (Required Navigation) technology in landing approaches. Using two Airbus A330s equipped with RNAV hardware, and software linked to flight guidance systems, the airline is working with the CAA to pilot the system, mainly on its Canadian and Caribbean flights.

The reliability and accuracy of GPS-based equipment enables approaches to be conducted down to lower altitudes in poor weather and may lead to low visibility approaches and auto-lands. Approaches that are curved or made along valleys can also be made with RNAV, easing the previous challenges of difficult terrain or locations.