zprávy

The European GNSS Agency and its crew touched down on the runway of the Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague to highlight the benefits of the EU Space Programme in the Czech Republic.

GSA’s crew took part to the Runway Park 2020, an event gathering aviation enthusiasts, plane spotters and families, held at the old runway of Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport. During the event, the apron is transformed into an open-air exhibition offering a wide range of activities for all age groups.  True to its mission – linking space to user needs - the European GNSS Agency was there to raise awareness about the EU Space programme and the benefits it is already delivering to citizens and business alike.  

With over 2000 visitors, at the GSA stand, people had the chance to experience and learn about applications based on the EU Space Programme, in particular Galileo and EGNOS. The lifesaving capabilities of the EU space technologies took centre stage when visitors experienced a helicopter rescue on the snow-capped Alps with the help of Galileo, while crafty hands were busy honing their space skills by building small scale satellite mock-ups, taking quizzes and winning prizes.

A highlight of this four-day event was the “Land with EGNOS” flight simulator. Visitors were able to “land” an Airbus A350 using EGNOS, the EU’s regional navigation system that provides the additional reliability essential for applications where position integrity is critical, such as in the aviation sector.

Read this: EGNOS goes from strength to strength

“EGNOS is a win-win solution for the airliners, the airports and the ANSP´s. It makes airports accessible under bad weather conditions while it is central to the safety of passengers and crew. EGNOS based approach procedures can be implemented at many airports without the need to invest in conventional facilities. Such procedures are published at all airports where Air Navigation Service of the Czech Republic provides services and air carriers can benefit from increased safety and accessibility of the airports,“ said Jan Klas, Director General at the Air Navigation Service of the Czech Republic.

Prague Airport, an early adopter of the EGNOS technology, will soon release a Corporate Social Responsibility report emphasizing how the system can help the airport go greener.

“Investing in EU Space technology is pivotal for rolling out cleaner forms of transport while ensuring a sustainable European economy. To this day, more than 350 European airports have implemented EGNOS procedures, and the GSA is working with Member States, airlines, air traffic regulators and airports to increase this number and accelerate progress towards the ambitious EU Green Deal,” concludes Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Director at the GSA.

The European GNSS Agency and its crew touched down on the runway of the Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague to highlight the benefits of the EU Space Programme in the Czech Republic.

GSA’s crew took part to the Runway Park 2020, an event gathering aviation enthusiasts, plane spotters and families, held at the old runway of Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport. During the event, the apron is transformed into an open-air exhibition offering a wide range of activities for all age groups.  True to its mission – linking space to user needs - the European GNSS Agency was there to raise awareness about the EU Space programme and the benefits it is already delivering to citizens and business alike.  

With over 2000 visitors, at the GSA stand, people had the chance to experience and learn about applications based on the EU Space Programme, in particular Galileo and EGNOS. The lifesaving capabilities of the EU space technologies took centre stage when visitors experienced a helicopter rescue on the snow-capped Alps with the help of Galileo, while crafty hands were busy honing their space skills by building small scale satellite mock-ups, taking quizzes and winning prizes.

A highlight of this four-day event was the “Land with EGNOS” flight simulator. Visitors were able to “land” an Airbus A350 using EGNOS, the EU’s regional navigation system that provides the additional reliability essential for applications where position integrity is critical, such as in the aviation sector.

Read this: EGNOS goes from strength to strength

EGNOS is a win-win solution for both airlines and airports. It makes airports accessible under bad weather conditions while it is central to the safety of both passengers and the crew. Furthermore, EGNOS reduces the amount of noise and emissions produced by the aircraft during the approach.

Prague Airport, an early adopter of the EGNOS technology, will soon release a Corporate Social Responsibility report emphasizing how the system can help the airport go greener.

“Investing in EU Space technology is pivotal for rolling out cleaner forms of transport while ensuring a sustainable European economy. To this day, more than 350 European airports have implemented EGNOS procedures, and the GSA is working with Member States, airlines, air traffic regulators and airports to increase this number and accelerate progress towards the ambitious EU Green Deal,” concludes Pascal Claudel, Acting Executive Director at the GSA.

For the first time in Europe, the Italian Railway Network (RFI) has introduced a new railway traffic control and management system that uses satellite technologies, including Galileo.

History in the making for Europe. Early this month, the Italian Railway Network (RFI), part of the FS Italiane Group, announced the introduction of the very first railway traffic control and management system that uses satellite technologies on a regional line.

Following the successful test campaign of satellite technologies coordinated by the GSA, which involved also the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA), RFI has launched a pilot line to be built in the European Mediterranean corridor between Novara and Rho. Here the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 is being installed, with the advanced signaling system that controls the maximum allowed speed and the distance of the trains, instant by instant, intervening automatically if these limits are exceeded. To determine the position of the train, satellite navigation systems will be used, including the European system Galileo. Hitachi Rail will be in charge of the realization, validation and certification of satellite technologies for the ERTMS system. 

Find out more about:  ERtms + SATellite: the ERSAT Program

Satellite-based applications are becoming more and more crucial to the railway transport and industry, contributing to new solutions for a more sustainable, cost-efficient and smarter mobility. To confirm such a trend, a Work Plan for the ERTMS, published by the European Commission in May this year, listed satellite positioning as one of the game-changing technologies underpinning future evolutions of the system and a key element to be included in future Technological Specifications for Interoperability (TSI).

Read this: Satellite positioning: a game changer for the European Railway Traffic Management System

The GSA is interfacing with all the stakeholders involved in the deployment of the ERTMS. The Agency has been supporting the integration of GNSS  in rail via the provision of Horizon 2020 funds, and by stimulating research and innovation among industries and service providers involved in railway traffic management. 

For the first time in Europe, the Italian Railway Network (R.F.I.) has introduced a new railway traffic control and management system that uses satellite technologies, including Galileo.

History in the making for Europe. Early this month, the Italian Railway Network (RFI), part of the FS Italiane Group, announced the introduction of the very first railway traffic control and management system that uses satellite technologies on a regional line.

Following the successful test campaign of satellite technologies coordinated by the GSA, which involved also the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA), RFI has launched a pilot line to be built in the European Mediterranean corridor between Novara and Rho. Here the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 is being installed, with the advanced signaling system that controls the maximum allowed speed and the distance of the trains, instant by instant, intervening automatically if these limits are exceeded. To determine the position of the train, satellite navigation systems will be used, including the European system Galileo. Hitachi Rail will be in charge of the realization, validation and certification of satellite technologies for the ERTMS system. 

Find out more about:  ERtms + SATellite: the ERSAT Program

Satellite-based applications are becoming more and more crucial to the railway transport and industry, contributing to new solutions for a more sustainable, cost-efficient and smarter mobility. To confirm such a trend, a Work Plan for the ERTMS, published by the European Commission in May this year, listed satellite positioning as one of the game-changing technologies underpinning future evolutions of the system and a key element to be included in future Technological Specifications for Interoperability (TSI).

Read this: Satellite positioning: a game changer for the European Railway Traffic Management System

The GSA is interfacing with all the stakeholders involved in the deployment of the ERTMS. The Agency has been supporting the integration of GNSS  in rail via the provision of Horizon 2020 funds, and by stimulating research and innovation among industries and service providers involved in railway traffic management.