Viasat Leads Historic UK SBAS Flight Trial, Showcasing Advanced GPS Capabilities

Written by Copernical Team Monday, 22 January 2024 14:18

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London, UK (SPX) Jan 19, 2024

Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global satellite communications company, has marked a significant milestone in the UK's satellite navigation capabilities by successfully demonstrating the UK Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for the first time. This test, conducted from Cranfield Airport using a Saab 340B aircraft from the National Flying Laboratory Centre, has showcased the potential of

Viasat Leads Historic UK SBAS Flight Trial, Showcasing Advanced GPS Capabilities
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Jan 19, 2024

Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global satellite communications company, has marked a significant milestone in the UK's satellite navigation capabilities by successfully demonstrating the UK Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for the first time. This test, conducted from Cranfield Airport using a Saab 340B aircraft from the National Flying Laboratory Centre, has showcased the potential of a UK-based SBAS to deliver more precise and reliable navigation data, especially crucial following the UK's departure from the European Union and, consequently, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).

The UK SBAS, a novel technology in the realm of navigational systems, operates by integrating ground monitoring data with satellite connectivity, enhancing the reliability of navigational data. This system can pinpoint locations with an accuracy down to a few centimeters, a significant improvement over the few meters accuracy provided by standard GPS. For aviation, this advancement translates into greater confidence for pilots in their onboard instruments, particularly vital in poor visibility conditions.

This technology is not just a new development; it represents a critical shift in navigational accuracy and safety. Pilots, especially those operating smaller aircraft in regional airports and general aviation airfields, can now approach the ground more closely before deciding whether to land, potentially reducing the number of missed landings due to bad weather. Viasat's research with a regional flight operator indicated a substantial impact: nearly 40% of weather-related flight cancellations could have been avoided with the availability of UK SBAS. The significance of this advancement extends beyond aviation, with potential applications in rail, unmanned aerial vehicles, and autonomous road vehicles.

The UK's Technology Minister at the Department for Transport, Anthony Browne, highlighted the demonstration as a testament to the UK's leading position in the space sector and its capabilities in position, navigation, and timing (PNT). He emphasized the role of the Government-funded project through the ESA NAVISP programme in supporting the future provision of high-accuracy, high-integrity positioning services.

Todd McDonnell, President, International Government at Viasat, underscored the trial's importance in providing trust. He elaborated on the trial's role in ensuring safety for pilots, operational efficiency for the aviation industry, and laying the groundwork for Britain's transport system as new technologies emerge.

Dean Thomas, Position, Navigation and Timing Lead at the UK Space Agency, also recognized the trial's significance. He pointed out that this testbed project is crucial in helping the Government understand the potential benefits of a UK SBAS, showcasing the capability of the UK industry in delivering space-based PNT solutions.

Funded by the Department for Transport via the European Space Agency's NAVISP programme, the trial is a collaboration involving a Viasat-led team of UK companies. This includes Goonhilly Earth Station, CGI UK, GMV, Ordnance Survey, Cranfield University, the Cranfield National Flying Laboratory Centre, and Pildo Labs.

The UK SBAS generates a test signal overlay to the US Global Positioning System (GPS), compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. This enables the assessment of more precise, resilient, and high-integrity navigation for maritime and aviation users in UK waters and airspace. The signal broadcast is coordinated with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the European Union Space Programme Agency (EUSPA). Viasat's I-3 F5 satellite provides the broadcast capability for UK SBAS.

In parallel, a similar system named SouthPAN is under development to offer resilient PNT services in Australia and New Zealand. This service, expected to be provided by Viasat through one of its next-generation I-8 satellites, aims to launch in 2027, further extending the reach and impact of these advanced navigational systems.