FAA approved Honeywell’s Smartpath Precision Landing System, a ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) that supports precision approaches and landings and transmits digital guidance signals to aircraft. The first U.S.-approved system is located in Memphis, Tenn., and will become operational early next year, the agency said. GBAS augments the GPS to provide precision approach guidance to all qualifying runways at an airport. It monitors the GPS signals to detect errors and augment accuracy by transmitting correction messages to aircraft via local radio broadcast. The Honeywell system is approved for precision approach operations down to 200 feet above the surface.