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Aviation History
1999
1999 - 1918.PDF
air transport WINNER: Smiths Industries Aerospace/Alaska Airlines ACHIEVEMENT: The use of Smith's flight management system and GPS to eliminate non-precision approaches Smiths Industries Aerospace and Alaska Airlines have taken a major step forward in the communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) operating environment with the use of Smiths' advanced flight management system (FMS) and the global positioning system (GPS) to eliminate non-precision approaches. The team pioneered required navigation performance (RNP) 0.15 operations at Juneau Airport, Alaska - one of the world's most challenging airports to approach in terms of geography and climate. The terrain at Juneau rises from sea level to 1,525m (5,000ft) within one mile of both ends of the runway threshold. The approach is even more challenging in winter, when geographical difficulties are combined with snow, strong winds, limited visibility, fog and a coastal marine climate. The conventional primary approach to Juneau required visual contact with the runway for the 5.15km (3.2 miles) between the missed approach point and the runway. When weather at Juneau is good, visual contact often cannot be maintained because of localised weather conditions in the "cut" - a small section of land between the missed approach point and the touchdown zone. Before Smiths and Alaska Airlines developed and certificated the FMS/GPS RNP approach, there was no instrument approach landing to the west, which meant that all instrument flight rules (IFR) operations had to approach from the east, circumnavigating mountainous terrain in challenging weather conditions. Alaska has gained major safety benefits and cost advantages through improved operational reliability from the implementation of RNP procedures. The approach minimum to Juneau's runway 08 are now 103m (337ft) with 1.61km (1 mile) visibility flying an RNP as low as 0.15nm. Previously the only access to the airport from runway 08 was visual approach with 6.5km (4 miles) visibility and a 1220m ceiling. The procedure has reduced Alaska's exposure to controlled flight into terrain - the most significant airline safety hazard. The awards judges were particularly attracted by the safety benefits of this procedure, noting that half of all accidents happen at the approach and landing stage and non-precision approaches have five times more risk associated with them than precision approaches. This approach has applications at airports worldwide. Following the Smiths/Alaska team's pioneering activities at Juneau, dual FMS/GPS RNP procedures are being developed in conjunction with the US Air Transport Association at airports throughout the USA, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Seattle.
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