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Following the German Federal Office for Air Traffic Control’s certification of the ground station for the new satellite-based approach and landing system GBAS (Ground Based Augmentation System) as a primary landing system, airberlin will be the first airline in Europe to use satellite-based landings on regular flights at Bremen Airport.
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 metres.
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 9th February 2012 after the first successful landing in Bremen following the certification, Tim Techt, Technical Pilot Boeing Fleet airberlin, said: “This innovative technology will make it possible to land more efficiently and with less noise pollution. In the future, GBAS will play a central role in the on-board navigation of our Boeing fleet.”
airberlin is Germany’s second largest airline. The company has a workforce of 9,200 employees. In 2010 alone, airberlin received over 10 awards for service and quality. The fleet comprises 170 aircraft with an average age of five years, making it one of the most modern fleets in Europe. The airline’s state-of-the-art jets are highly fuel efficient, which contributes toward a long-term reduction in pollution emissions from aircraft. As one of the major European airlines, airberlin flies to 162 destinations in 40 countries. In 2011, over 35 million passengers were transported. On 20th March 2012, airberlin becomes a full member of the global airline alliance oneworld®. airberlin operates codeshare flights with oneworld members American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Royal Jordanian, S7 and Japan Airlines. In December 2011, airberlin entered into a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
