FAA Certifies 1,000th WAAS-Based Approach Procedure

AOPA says the FAA has implemented the 1,000th GPS-based instrument approach that uses WAAS (wide area augmentation system).

The general aviation advocacy organization has been a strong proponent of WAAS as part of FAA's move toward satellite navigation.

"There is a lot of talk about NextGen (next generation), a satellite-based air traffic control system that is envisioned for 20 years down the road," said AOPA President Phil Boyer, "but WAAS is an example of what I like to call 'NowGen' - technologies to improve air traffic that are either here today or will be ready to deploy in the next three to five years."

Since WAAS was turned on three and a half years ago, AOPA has been pressing the FAA to implement as many of the satellite-based approaches as possible each year, and the FAA has responded by creating more than 300 each year.

"NextGen is vital to the future of aviation in America, but it won't be complete until 2025 or later," said Boyer. "WAAS is an excellent example of things we are doing now and in the near future to improve the National Airspace System."  02-23-2008.

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