PBN-compliant NAV Infrastructure for Germany

ongoing

The project aims at the realization of the requirements mandated by the EU Regulation 2018/1048 (PBN Implementation Regulation, PBN IR) in Germany. Performance Based Navigation (PBN) is a beneficial tool in context with the design of airspace and procedures. The German State has tasked DFS to develop an airspace strategy and a supporting PBN implementation and transition plan to ensure regulatory compliance with the PBN IR and to meet airspace users’ demands, without impacting on the safety or capacity of the airspace whilst fulfilling the national environmental commitments. The activities to be conducted via this project are comprehensively reflected within this national PBN implementation and transition plan, they are actively contributing to CNS rationalisation in Germany through ground infrastructure optimisation and decommissioning of legacy infrastructure and they also significantly improve the basic precondition for the further expansion of renewable energies within the territory of Germany. Especially the number of wind turbines could be substantially increased as the more modern ground infrastructure to be deployed requires very small building restriction areas compared to those navigations systems primarily operated today. Moreover, the regulation also mandates the availability of a Minimum Operational Network (MON) which allows for conventional navigation in case GNSS or other methods used for PBN are no longer available. In this context the project comprises the definition of a German VOR MON and its deployment by means of renewal of existing DVOR systems in order to support suitable en route connections among bigger German aerodromes and with the VOR MONs of neighbouring countries. Retrofit/Renewal into DME stand-alone systems (WP2 to WP13) comprises the installations of DME stations which allow for DME/DME multilateration especially in regard to ensure (but not limited to) RNAV 1 navigation performance on arrival and departure routes. DME systems are intended to be retrofitted (from current DVOR/DME systems) or renewed as stand-alone DME. In this context, 7 existing (D)VOR systems will be decommissioned. For each WP, the retrofit or renewal of systems comprise the dismounting of existing systems at the installation sites (costs for the decommissioning of the existing infrastructure will not be claimed), preliminary works (planning, commissioning of services, required permits), civil works and technical infrastructure, procurement and installation of the technical facilities and new DME systems, the flight inspection as well as the operational acceptance of the systems. Those DME systems are considered an integral part when it comes to optimizing SID and STAR during the PBN implementation. Renewal of DVOR/DME systems (WP14 to WP19) comprises the renewal of existing DVORDME systems, which are proposed as elements of the MON. For these WPs/ stations, the renewal of systems includes the dismounting of existing systems at the installation sites (costs for the decommissioning of the existing infrastructure will not be claimed), preliminary works (planning, commissioning of services, required permits), installation of a temporary interim facility/signal if required, civil works and technical infrastructure, procurement and installation of the counterpoises, technical facilities and new DVOR/DME systems, the flight inspection as well as the operational acceptance of the systems.