Next Generation Ground Based Augmentation System, Newark Liberty International Airport

In December 2008, Newark Liberty International Airport, in collabora-tion with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the FAA, Continental Airlines, and Honeywell International, announced that it would be the nation’s first major hub to test a new satellite navigation technology designed to reduce flight delays. Replacing existing radar technology, the Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) uses data from ground-based antennas and satellites, which prevents the signal from being blocked by mountains, buildings, and other obstacles. This eliminates the need for planes to take a straight-line approach to landing, thus increasing efficiency and navigational precision. The new GBAS system will be installed at the airport and Continental will outfit 15 of its planes with the new equipment and train pilots in using the new system. The program is expected to be operational by the end of 2009.