Subject: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

Approved: May 6, 1999

I. Need for Policy

GNSS is a worldwide position and time determination system that includes one or more satellite constellations, aircraft receivers, and system integrity monitoring, augmented as necessary to support the RNP for the actual phase of operation.

The satellite navigation systems in operation are the Global Positioning system (GPS) of the United States and the Global (Orbiting) Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) of the Russian Federation. Both systems were offered to ICAO as a means to support the evolutionary development of GNSS.

In 1994 the ICAO Council accepted the United States offer of the GPS, and in 1996, it accepted the Russian Federation offer of GLONASS.

To overcome inherent system limitations and to meet the performance requirements

(accuracy, integrity, availability and continuity) for all phases of flight, GPS and GLONASS require varying degrees of augmentation. Augmentations are classified in three broad categories: aircraft-based, ground-based and satellite -based.

Being significant worldwide users of the navigable airspace where safe, accurate and reliable navigation services are essential, those affiliated to IBAC have a vested interest in the operational and certification aspects of the GNSS. Such interest also extends to cost recovery and user charges.

II. Policy

To ensure that a GNSS system is implemented that meets the operational and economic considerations of business aviation, the following needs and requirements should be taken into consideration:

A. The current GNSS system, namely the U.S. GPS and the Russian GLONASS, by itself, does not provide the system performance necessary for all business aviation operational environments.

B. Wide Area Augmentation Service (WAAS), provided by various geo-stationary satellites, is required to provide system integrity and redundancy. WAAS has the added benefit of improving system accuracy and is expected to support Precision Approach Category I.

C. Local Area Augmentation Systems (LAAS), which provides corrections from surface locations on or near airports, are required in order to provide the accuracy and integrity to support Precision Approaches Category II and III.

D. Since the GPS and GLONASS signals are provided to civil aviation without user charges, individual States or other entities should not charge users for the use these elements of GNSS. It is recognized that user charges may be levied in order to recover the cost of providing WAAS and LAAS services.

E. Existing terrestrial en-route and terminal area radio-navigation aids i.e. NDBs and VORs should remain in service until year 2005 or otherwise until GNSS is approved for sole-means navigation.

Source of Policy: (4) Original, Governing Board, May 6-7, 1999