ESSP SAS is pleased to announce the signature in early August 2025 of an EGNOS Working Agreement (EWA) with Weston Airport (ICAO: EIWT), marking an important milestone in the airport’s strategy to modernise its navigation services and enhance the safety and reliability of its operations.

Located approximately 8 NM west of Dublin city centre, Weston Airport is Ireland’s only dedicated general-aviation and executive airport, supporting a mix of business aviation, private flying, helicopter (both Search and Rescue (SAR) and General Aviation (GA)) operations and professional pilot training. The aerodrome features a paved runway (07/25) with a standard length of 924 metres and extended declared distances on runway 25. This enables a wide variety of Aviation activities currently under visual flight rules, with plans to introduce instrument-flight procedures supporting SAR in the coming months, and for fixed-wing operations in the longer term.

Through the EWA, Weston Airport intends to adopt EGNOS-based instrument flight procedures, including LPV approaches. These satellite-based procedures provide high-integrity vertical guidance comparable to an ILS, improving accessibility in challenging weather conditions and increasing operational resilience. The agreement also offers Weston Airport a formal framework for implementing Performance-based Navigation (PBN) in line with the European regulatory environment.

According to Weston Airport, the decision to introduce EGNOS-enabled approaches in the coming months reflects the airport’s broader strategy to cater to fixed-wing business jet aircraft. Weston has already invested significantly in its infrastructure to enhance the services offered by operators, which currently include Irish Coast Guard Aviation Service, Pilot Training and Private Jet/Heli Charter operators. Future plans include aerodrome enhancements, hangar upgrades, and improved facilities for business aviation — the adoption of EGNOS represents a key step in aligning the airport with modern European navigation standards, enabling it to reach additional business jet customers.

This collaboration also highlights the strategic value of EGNOS within the European Union’s Space Programme. Managed by the European Commission and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), EGNOS provides increased accuracy, integrity and reliability for GNSS-based operations. Its Safety-of-Life service can support all phases of flight, particularly precision instrument approaches down to LPV minima, enabling safer and more predictable operations at airports without the need for ground-based navigation aids.

With the signing of this EWA, ESSP reinforces its commitment to supporting regional and general-aviation airports across Europe in their transition towards advanced PBN-based navigation solutions. For Weston Airport, the agreement forms part of a long-term vision to provide a safe, modern, efficient and accessible environment for aviators, training organisations and business jet operators across Ireland and Europe.