The San Sebastián Airport has had new instrument approach procedures based on satellite navigation technology through the European EGNOS system since November 28. This innovation improves the performance of previous procedures that relied solely on GPS signals, according to ENAIRE, Spain’s national air navigation service provider.
According to ENAIRE, the implementation of EGNOS offers an efficient alternative to conventional approaches based on ground-based radio aids, especially at airports with complex terrain and geographical limitations, such as San Sebastián. The organization highlights that the new technology will reduce the decision height during approach and landing, facilitating operations under low cloud ceiling conditions.
The procedures, which primarily affect runway 22, will represent a significant improvement as airlines adopt the required avionics and certifications to operate with EGNOS. ENAIRE specifies that the operational implementation of these systems requires aircraft to be adequately equipped and crews to have the corresponding training.
More efficient and alternative procedures
The introduction of this technology adds to improvements made in 2021, when departure and arrival procedures based on conventional VOR/DME radio aids were optimized with GPS satellite navigation. ENAIRE explains that EGNOS systems, which do not rely on ground infrastructure, are particularly useful during periods of maintenance or when radio aids are out of service.
EGNOS system and European collaboration
The European EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) system is owned by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and its operation is overseen by the ESSP (European Satellite Services Provider), the service provider authorized by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). ENAIRE, together with other air navigation providers from Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, is part of ESSP.
For the implementation of these new procedures, ENAIRE carried out the corresponding safety studies, which were subsequently approved by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA).
