Aviation Week was invited to fly on Boeing 737-900ERs operated by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in a carefully choreographed demonstration with Boeing, the FAA and the San Francisco International Airport authority on Aug. 27 aimed at showing the potential operational and environmental benefits of combining precision approaches using required navigation performance (RNP) with a ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) for satellite-based instrument landings. RNP provides the aircraft with narrow three-dimensional paths into the vicinity of an airport, where the GBAS landing system (GLS) provides the precision guidance to landing. One of the key aims is for GLS to improve airport capacity and access during low visibility.
Read more about the demonstration flights: Boeing, Delta, United, FAA Join Forces For SFO GLS Demo