Dear Customer, dear Stakeholder,

According to the European Regulation, skeyes is currently working on the PBN implementation and transition plan 2024/2030 for the Belgian part of the Brussels FIR.

We would like to consult our stakeholders before requesting the approval by the National Authorities.

In the current sanitary context and restrictions due to Covid-19, we decided to provide a consultation paper by e-mail. The detailed PBN implementation and transition plan for 2024/2030 is available on request.

We are aiming to create a dynamic document describing the way ahead to 2030.

Each and every significant update shall be transmitted to our stakeholders for consultation.

The next update can be expected by the end of 2022.

We would appreciate to receive all your questions and/or comments by e-mail at pbn.consultation@skeyes.be before the 30th of November 2020.

With kind regards,

skeyes

ICAO declared that the implementation of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) flight procedures was a priority for air navigation. Air navigation needs safer, flexible and greener flight procedures and PBN is the key to this.

It is considered a significant change in air navigation, shifting from conventional navigation (flying from beacon to beacon) to a more efficient and affordable navigation system, primarily based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) where aircraft fly from point to point unrestrained from the navigation infrastructure on the ground.

PBN is a powerful design tool for routes and procedures as it allows routes to be placed in the most strategic beneficial location. This single PBN benefit provides spin-off benefits in terms of capacity, safety, flight and ATM efficiency, aerodrome access, economical and potentially also environmental mitigation.

Since 2012, PBN departure routes are implemented at Liège airport, followed by the aerodromes at Brussels, Charleroi and Kortrijk. In 2015, the first PBN approach procedure was implemented at Antwerp airport. Today, each aerodrome has at least one PBN approach procedure.

According to the European regulation, skeyes designed a PBN implementation and transition plan describing the way ahead to 2030.

The purpose of the transition and implementation plan 2024/2030 is the establishment of a full PBN environment within the Belgian part of the Brussels FIR and at the aerodromes of Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Kortrijk, Liège and Oostende by the 6th of June 2030 at the latest.

The emphasis of the first edition of this plan is the establishment of a PBN compliant environment. This implies that all required PBN flight procedures at each aerodrome will be implemented. These procedures complement the conventional flight procedures and will be published the latest by the 25th of January 2024. The target date for Brussels, Charleroi and Liège is the 27th of January 2022.

Moving to a full PBN environment implies that the navigation will mainly rely on GPS (the only GNSS available for aviation in Belgium). Most of the conventional procedures supported by the ground based infrastructure will be withdrawn and the ground infrastructure rationalized: Only a minimal network of selected VORs, DME and ILS shall be retained to provide a fall-back in case of a GPS outage.

Once the full PBN environment is realized, an optimization of this PBN environment will be initiated. This comprises the redesign of airspace as well as the routes which can then be redesigned independently from the ground-based infrastructure and placed at the most strategic beneficial location. By doing so, the benefits from PBN (as mentioned above) will be fully realized. This optimization is only covered partly by the plan as it will continue beyond 2030.

General information regarding performance based navigation can be found at www.pbnportal.eu

Belgian Air Navigation Services

member of FABEC

For more info/any questions:
customeraffairs@skeyes.be

www.skeyes.be