camera recording
Augusta Westland Airport
February 16, 2016

ESSP and Finmeccanica sign an EGNOS Working Agreement


EGNOS Service Provider, ESSP, and Finmeccanica, have recently signed an EGNOS Working Agreement (EWA), as a key step for the implementation of EGNOS-based approach procedures (LPV procedures) at Yeovil in March 2016.

The agreement was signed on the 22nd December 2015 by John Ponsonby from AgustaWestland Ltd and Thierry Racaud from ESSP. It is the 40th EWA to be signed.

The signature of an EGNOS Working Agreement, indeed number 40, establishes the operational and legal framework to use the EGNOS Safety-of-Life Service as a navigation aid between the EGNOS Service Provider – ESSP - and the Airport / Navigation entity willing to use this service. The EWA is the step prior to the publication of APV-1 SBAS approaches that offer similar performance to ILS CAT 1.

Being the home of Finmeccanica’s helicopter production facilities in the UK, Yeovil airfield supports development, production and test flying for a wide range of AgustaWestland helicopters that are used for military and commercial applications.

Thierry Racaud, ESSP CEO said“the signature of an EWA is the first step for the implementation of EGNOS- based approach procedures within an airport. We are glad to cooperate in increasing safety and accessibility to Yeovil airfield.”

John Ponsonby, Managing Director, AgustaWestland Ltd, said “I am pleased to have signed this agreement to further improve the approach facilities at Yeovil airfield which will benefit our own flight operations and those of other users.”