Airberlin becomes the first airline in Europe to use satellite-based landings on regular flights at Bremen

Airberlin (Berlin) will be the first airline in Europe to use satellite-based landings on regular flights at Bremen Airport. The German carrier announced on February 10, 2012 the German Federal Office for Air Traffic Control’s approved the accreditation of the Bremen ground station for the new satellite-based approach and landing system GBAS (Ground Based Augmentation System) as a primary landing system.

Since 2008, the German Air Traffic Control Authority (DFS) has been working closely with airberlin on the development of the new system. In November 2009, airberlin was the first airline worldwide to receive approval for its Boeing 737 Next Generation fleet to use the GBAS on landings up to a visual range of only 550 meters.

The new satellite-based landing system is much more precise than the instrument- based landing system (ILS) which has been used until now. Other advantages of GBAS landings are that noise pollution on the ground is reduced because approach angles can be varied and in the future it will be possible to use the system in mountainous areas, where it was not previously possible to land using the instrument-based landing system.

On the evening of February 9, 2012 the company completed the first successful landing in Bremen following the accreditation.

Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer.

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About Bruce Drum

I have started the ultimate digital photo library of the fascinating world of airliners and airlines. The goal is to have the complete history of all airlines and the various aircraft operated. I have been photographing airplanes since 1965. Join us in this adventure.