Canada’s Air Creebec will equip its Q-Series (Dash 8) fleet with Wide Area Augmentation System/Satellite-Based Augmentation System Flight Management Systems (WAAS/SBAS-FMS) and Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) from Universal Avionics, based in Tucson, Ariz.
Air Creebec selected Universal Avionics’ UNS-1Lw WAAS/SBAS-FMS, with a 4-inch Flat Panel Control Display Unit and a remotely mounted navigation computer. The navigation computer is contained in a 2-MCU sized Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) which includes the integral GPS/SBAS receiver. Air Creebec will gain access to all RNAV (GNSS) approach types as well as the additional accuracy of WAAS correction for other on-board systems, Universal said. Universal’s WAAS/SBAS-FMS is the Bombardier OEM FMS offering for the Q400 aircraft, along with UniLink Communications Management Units and Universal Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorders.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that we will eventually have Universal’s WAAS/SBAS-FMS in every Q-Series/ Dash 8 operating in Canada,” said Norm Matheis, Universal’s Regional Manager for Canada. “There’s a compelling case that investments in these technologies can drive overall operational efficiencies over the life of the aircraft.
“There are big changes coming to our airspace this year. Traffic management strategies that leverage the capability of modern flight management systems are high on Nav Canada’s and its customer’s list of priorities. We have the solutions that Canadian regionals want and need that support the path forward to performance-based navigation and the TAWS mandate,” Matheis said.