News
Canadian Association of Instrument Procedure Designers Created
Five Canadian independent procedure designers, including Air Navigation Data, decided to organize CAIPD to improve communications between these independent designers and NAV CANADA. On April 1st, 2013, the formation of the Canadian Association of Instrument Procedure Designers was announced.
read moreFirst ILS Procedure for Rwy 26 at CYTZ
Final Approach™ was used to design an ILS procedure for Runway 26 at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport for use by Porter Airlines. Given the environment with many obstructions along Toronto’s busy waterfront, an ILS procedure was not previously possible…
read moreImproved Efficiency for Offshore Oil Rig Flight Operations
Cougar Helicopters, the major offshore oil-rig flight support organization on Canada’s East Coast, was looking for a way to improve the availability of an alternate airport to use for IFR operations. The existing procedure had relatively high minimums so that a more remote alternate was needed a high percentage of the time…
read moreNew Client Instrument Procedure Design Office
Air Navigation Data Equips Client Instrument Procedure Design Office STARS Air Ambulance has long been a client of Air Navigation Data. They operate from dozens of helipads at hospitals throughout Alberta and each one requires an up-to-date instrument procedure to ensure safe and reliable patient transport. Previously, Air Navigation Data has designed these procedures for STARS but now, as their area of responsibility has grown beyond Alberta to include Saskatchewan and Manitoba, STARS has decided to establish their own procedure design office. Air Navigation Data has provided STARS with all the software tools and data for the new office. Using Final Approach, STARS will be able to design and maintain their own instrument...
read moreFirst to Use New LPV Approach Criteria
Air Navigation Data Receives First Approval to Use New “Cat I” LPV Approach Criteria The Services division of Air Navigation Data announced September 4, 2012 that it was the first company to receive approval to use the new Transport Canada GNSS RNAV criteria (TP308, Change 5.3). This means that customers of Air Navigation Data are able to take advantage of the lowest GNSS minima now available (200 ft Height Above TDZE) gaining greater poor weather capability. Porter Airlines, operating out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, will the first to benefit. Air Navigation Data has designed a new RNAV (GNSS) to LPV minimums for Porter Airlines that provides them with fewer weather related...
read moreFinal Approach® Now Incorporates “Cat I” LPV Criteria
Final Approach Version 2.9 With New LPV Criteria Now Available The newest version of Final Approach, Version 2.9, is now available. With this new version, Final Approach becomes the first automated procedure design tool to be compliant with Transport Canada’s new criteria (TP308, Change 5.3 which is equivalent to the FAA’s 8260.54a). This update allows GNSS-based procedures with minimums as low as 200 feet height above touchdown, equivalent to the best CAT I ILS installations, without the need for expensive terrestrial...
read moreFirst LPV Procedure for Billy Bishop Airport
First LPV Procedure for Rwy 08 at Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport Creating an approach to Runway 08 at Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport is difficult. The runway environment makes a traditional ILS installation impossible and the proximity of tall buildings along the waterfront limits many options. Using Final Approach®, Air Navigation Data was able to create an LPV procedure for Porter Airlines that is the first to be compliant with Transport Canada’s new criteria (TP308, Change 5.3). The minimums for the procedure of 250 feet height above touchdown are the best possible, given the absence of approach lighting, precluded by marine navigation zones. This procedure has been submitted and it is expected to be published...
read moreSTARS Air Ambulance Benefits From Advanced Procedures
STARS Air Ambulance and Its Critically-Ill Patients Benefit From Advanced Instrument Procedures STARS Air Ambulance, a Western Canada helicopter air ambulance operator, has over the past 9 years employed Air Navigation Data to design and maintain its instrument procedure inventory for all of the 36 hospital helipads that they use. This process ensures continuous operations in all but the worst weather conditions, greatly expanding their ability to transport critically ill patients reliably and...
read moreA New Approach – Canadian Skies Magazine
Read our article in Canadian Skies magazine: “As Space-Based Navigation Systems are phased in, they will provide more accurate data for instrument...
read moreBusted Minimums – Wings Magazine: Wings on Safety
There are situations where LNAV alone provides lower minima than LNAV/VNAV and these exceptions have confused more than one pilot and led to busted minimums. Read our safety article on “Busted...
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