Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Aviation and Emergency Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the unavailability of localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches on (a) general aviation, (b) emergency medical services and (c) regional airports; and what steps her Department is taking to deal with the (i) economic and (ii) operational impact of the loss of European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) services at airports.
Answered by Mike Kane
Larger UK airports and many regional airports have Instrument Landing Systems in place and therefore a satellite-based augmentation system) such as European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), is primarily beneficial at smaller regional airports and General Aviation aerodromes during periods of poor weather resulting in restricted visibility. Flights that are taking place continue to do so safely, following alternative Civil Aviation Authority approved procedures.
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) will, in the UK, be supported through a GNSS Point in Space ‘PinS’ approach to helicopter landing sites at trauma hospitals which will greatly assist in increasing the utility of air ambulance helicopters in poor visibility conditions.
Government is considering options for UK access to a satellite-based augmentation system, following our withdrawal from the EU's EGNOS system. This work is ongoing and no decision has yet been made.
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