Widerøe Dash 8-100 Conducts GPS SCAT-1 Approach

Flight International reports that a passenger-carrying Widerøe Bombardier Dash 8-100 was the first to fly an approach using the world's only certificated GNSS (global navigation satellite system) precision approach system on October 29, at a remote airport in Norway.  Widerøe is a SAS subsidiary.

The GPS-based approach, also known as a SCAT-1 (special category 1), to Brønnøysund's Runway 04, had been previously approved by Avinor, Norway's ANSP (air navigation service provider), and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

SCAT-1 approaches use a local area differential GNSS ground-based augmentation that enables a descent to a Category 1 decision height, provided all the other requirements, such as necessary runway and approach lighting are also met.

The system will be installed at 24 of Norway's local airports where terrain or steep glideslopes make the installation or use of instrument landing systems impossible, Flight International (11-02-2007) reports Steinar Hamar, Avionor's SCAT-1 program manager, as saying.

The aircraft was equipped with Universal Avionics' GLS-1250 GNSS twin receivers/processors which were integrated with the aircraft's FMS (flight management system). The airport-located ground station that provides signal corrections and integrity assurance to the aircraft system by VHF datalink was developed by Norway-based Park Instruments.  11-08-2007.

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