The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is coming to even the farthest-flung (and most difficult to navigate) reaches of Canada, thanks to a deal between the FAA and Nav Canada, the private company that runs Canada’s civil air navigation system. Nav Canada will build four ground stations (Winnipeg, Goose Bay, Gander and Iqualuit) to refine GPS signals and give a seven-foot lateral and vertical error margin on GPS approaches to airports without standard ILS systems. The greater accuracy WAAS provides will reduce the current GPS approach minimums from up to 165 meters to 75 meters. Minimums for standard ILS systems remain at 60 meters. “We welcome this new collaborative agreement with the FAA, which promises to deliver significant benefits to our customers through increased accessibility to many airports,” said John Crichton, Nav Canada’s CEO.
Canada Joins WAAS World
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA and Nav Canada have partnered to extend the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) to remote and difficult-to-navigate regions of Canada.
- Nav Canada will build four ground stations (Winnipeg, Goose Bay, Gander, Iqualuit) to refine GPS signals for improved accuracy.
- WAAS will provide a seven-foot lateral and vertical error margin on GPS approaches, reducing minimums from 165 meters to 75 meters and increasing airport accessibility.
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