GBAS - INTRODUCTION

Ground-Based Augmentation System

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 1

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 2

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 3

 Introduction

A Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS)

augments the existing GNSS system by providing
corrections to aircraft position in the vicinity of an airport.

Allowing:
 Precision approach procedures down to CAT-I.
 ILS “like” system behavior/interface.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Introduction

Acronyms
 GBAS – Ground-Based Augmentation System
 In the past, the FAA referred to GBAS as LAAS (Local Area
Augmentation System).

 GLS – GBAS Landing System

 It is the official name for a GBAS instrument approach
procedure
 The term GLS appears on every GBAS approach chart.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Introduction

GBAS vs SBAS
 SBAS - Satellite Based Augmentation System, is a a wide
coverage augmentation system in which the airplane receives
augmentation information from a satellite-based transmitter.
WAAS in United States and EGNOS in Europe are examples of
Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).

 GBAS and SBAS differ in approach and infrastructure, resulting in

different capabilities.

NOTES:
- The SBAS approach procedure is an RNP APCH operation down to LPV
or LP minima.
- The only commercial airplane equipped with this system is the A350.
Currently, QTR does NOT have the Operational Approval to use it.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 6

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 7

 Aircraft Equipage

 Current QTR GBAS equipped aircraft:

 All A350-900
 All B787-8

 A retrofit on the remaining of the fleet is under evaluation.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 8

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 9

 Definition

Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS)

 Is a system that provides position differential corrections and
integrity monitoring of Global Navigation Satellite Systems
(GNSS).

 Provides navigation and precision approach service in the vicinity

of the host airport, broadcasting its position differential correction
message via a VHF radio data broadcast from a ground-based
transmitter.

 Yields an extremely high accuracy, availability, and integrity

necessary for Category I, and in the future Category II, and III
precision approaches.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 10

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 11

 How it works?

GBAS augments the existing GNSS by providing position corrections

to aircraft in the vicinity of an airport in order to improve the accuracy
of, and provide integrity for, these aircrafts' GNSS navigational
position.

The goal of GBAS implementation is to provide an alternative to ILS,

supporting the full range of approach and landing operations.

Current GBAS installations provide Category I (CAT-I) precision

approach service.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 How it works?

A GBAS Ground Facility typically has three or more GPS antennas, a

central processing system (i.e., a computer), and a VHF Data
Broadcast (VDB) transmitter, all locally situated on or near an airport.

GBAS provides its service to a local area (approximately a 23

nautical mile radius).

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 How it works?
The GBAS Ground Facility uses the VHF Data Broadcast (VDB) to
provide aircraft with GPS corrections, integrity parameters, GBAS
Ground Facility characteristics and approach path guidance for up to 48
approaches.
Each approach has a dedicated channel.

GBAS airborne equipment consists of a GPS antenna, a Very High

Frequency (VHF) antenna, and associated processing equipment.
The airborne equipment uses the VDB corrections to more accurately
compute GPS position, velocity, and time to guide the aircraft safely to
the runway. This signal provides ILS-look-alike guidance.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 14

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 15

 Advantages

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Advantages

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Advantages

* Depends on the aircraft type and the procedure design

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Advantages

Additional advantages:
 Demonstrated accuracy of less than 1 meter in both
vertical and horizontal directions.

 Able to support displaced thresholds operations and/or

variable glide slopes.

 The GBAS approach guidance is steadier than ILS

approach guidance.

 Requires less frequent flight inspections compared to

those required of ILS systems.
Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 19

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 20

 Future

GBAS is the only feasible satellite-based navigation capability for

Category II/III precision approach operations to permit low visibility
operations to touchdown and rollout.

The FAA and other States are in the process of validating proposed
ICAO GBAS standards to support Category III (CAT-III) precision
approach operations.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 21

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 22

 Airport Implementation

The below are some airports that has obtained operational approval
for public GBAS use:
 Newark and Houston, US;
 Bremen and Frankfurt, Germany;
 Sydney, Australia;
 Malaga, Spain;
 Zurich, Switzerland;
 And 15 Russian locations.

Several other airports are going through the operational approval

process.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Airport Implementation

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 25

 Charting

The procedure Identification:

 GLS Rwy XX”
or
 “GBAS Rwy XX”.

Primary Navaid:
GBAS or LAAS, followed by the
channel number, and the GLS
Identification

Note: The “-” used in some GLS identification

is insignificant and has no meaning

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

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 Charting
“ILS-look-alike” procedure

Note:
• GLS DME values (if published) always indicate distance to
the threshold.

• There is no non-precision approach (i.e., LOC (GS out))

associated with a GLS.
Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 27

 Charting
• GBAS provides its service to a local area of approximately a 23
nautical mile radius.
• Lateral & vertical GLS deviation pointers are not displayed
outside of this area
• This information is not depicted on a GLS approach plate

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 28

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 29

 B787 GBAS information
For self training on B787 GBAS (GLS) procedures, please refer to:
 FCOM
– System Description :
» 4- Automatic Flight - Chapter 4.20
» 10- Flight Instrument, Displays – Chapters 10.10
 FCTM
» Flight Path Vector – Chapter 1.23
» ILS or GLS Approach - Chapter 5.11 and A.2.5
» GLS Approach - Chapter 5.29
 NOP
» Landing Procedure ILS or GLS (NOP.21.52)
 OMA:
» Chapter 8.1.3, 8.3.0 and 8.4.6

NOTE: The listed chapters above are not the only sources of GBAS (GLS)
information. More information can be found in several other chapters inside
these manuals.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 30

 Index

Introduction
Definition
Aircraft Equipage
How it works?
Advantages
Future
Airport implementation
Charting
B787 GBAS information
A350 GBAS information

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 31

 A350 GBAS information
For self training on A350 GBAS (GLS) procedures, please refer to:
 FCOM
» Approach Modes and Landing Modes – DCS-22-FG-70-80
» Aircraft Systems – DSC-34-NAV-50
 FCTM
» Standard Operating Procedures – Approach – PR-NP-SOP-190
 NOR
» Approach – Approach General – NOR-SOP-180
 OMA:
» Chapter 8.1.3, 8.3.0 and 8.4.6

NOTE: The listed chapters above are not the only sources of GBAS (GLS)
information. More information can be found in several other chapters inside
these manuals.

Flight Operations Technical GBAS

Copyright © 2014,Qatar Airways QCSC All Rights Reserved 32