New EGNOS Working Agreements Signed
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The EGNOS Service Provider ESSP, in-line with the service expansion plans set-out by the GSA, has signed new Working Agreements with Slovak and Romanian air navigation service providers (ANSPs), paving the way for the two countries to begin introducing EGNOS-based LPV approach procedures.
The EU’s satellite-based augmentation system, EGNOS, provides a cost-effective alternative to Category Instrument 
Landing System(ILS CAT 1) approaches, offering similar performance reducing the cost of infrastructure installation and maintenance. In addition, the use of EGNOS itself is free of charge.
Also Read: Gothenburg City Airport pioneers LPV approach in Sweden
The establishment of an EGNOS Working Agreement lays operational and legal foundations, formalising the working procedures and required interfaces between ESSP and the airport or other navigation entity willing to use the EGNOS Safety-of-Life Service as a navigation aid. The Agreement is the necessary step before the publication of APV-1 SBAS approaches.
EGNOS in the Slovak Republic
Thierry Racaud, ESSP CEO, and Miroslav Bartos, President of the Slovak ANSP Letové Prevádzkové Služby Slovenskej Republiky (LPS), signed an EGNOS Working Agreement last September, opening the way for the implementation of EGNOS-based approach procedures in the Slovak Republic.
Also Read: GSA and Eurocontrol Announce Cooperation Agreement
Four procedures are now anticipated in the Slovak Republic, within the framework of the EU FP7 funded ACCEPTA project, managed by GSA, which is aimed at accelerating the adoption of EGNOS in the aviation sector. The procedures will cover specified approaches at Kosice and Bratislava Airports, all expected around the end of November 2014.
EGNOS in Romania
Also last September, a new EGNOS Working Agreement was sealed between Racaud and Ion Aurel Stanciu, General Director of Romania’s ANSP, ROMATSA. As with the Slovak Republic, this agreement paves the way for publication of EGNOS-based approach procedures in Romania.
Planned for 2015, Cluj Airport will be the first airport in Romania to have an EGNOS-based procedure. The procedure design and implementation is financed by the European GNSS Agency (GSA), as a part of its support plan to foster EGNOS adoption in aviation.
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