United Airlines flew the first precision approach using Honeywell’s SmartPath Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) into Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on Monday.
(United Airlines plane using Honeywell’s SmartPath. Photo, courtesy of IAH.)
The SmartPath GBAS system augments GPS signals for precision navigation during the approach and landing phases of flight. According to Honeywell, GBAS provides flexible approaches and landings that could reduce aircraft delays and carbon emissions at airports.
“We believe that GBAS is the air carrier precision landing system of the future,” said Capt. Joe Burns, managing director of technology and flight testing at United.
(Honeywell SmartPath GBAS. Photo, courtesy of IAH.)
United Airlines is currently operating flights using SmartPath on Boeing 737s equipped with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) landing system technology to utilize the GBAS landing approach data. IAH is the second U.S. airport to go live with SmartPath approaches.
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