Honeywell Inc. and Pelorus Navigation Systems Inc. designed and developed the system, which is the only GPS Landing System (GLS) in the world that has received all necessary approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The inaugural GLS flight will be conducted aboard a Continental Airlines MD-80, originating in Washington, D.C. The historic landings will be made at Newark and Minneapolis-St. Paul international airports.

The Honeywell/Pelorus GLS provides a cost-effective way to alleviate airport congestion and weather-related delays at airports around the world. The airborne and ground-based technology helps pilots land their aircraft safely by utilizing GPS technology to produce precise navigation data. A single GLS installation also costs far less than comparable Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), which previously had been the state of the art at the world's airports.

"Continental is proud to become the first carrier to take advantage of the increased level of safety and efficiency afforded by GLS," said Fred Abbott, vice president of operations for Continental. "GLS is a fundamental cornerstone in updating the National Airspace System."

The Honeywell/Pelorus system - called SLS-2000 - is the only GLS to receive all FAA certifications needed to make Continental's historic flight possible. It is also the only system to have commissioned installations at major airports in the U.S. and abroad, including Newark and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

"This is truly a historic day," said Michael Smith, Honeywell vice president and general manager. "In three years, the developers of GLS, with the support and cooperation of Continental Airlines and the Twin Cities and New York/New Jersey airports, were able to create a system that will significantly control costs while improving the efficiency and safety of airports throughout the world. The FAA gave the system a high priority as it conducted the rigorous regimen of tests required for certification. We look forward to a continuation of this close business-government working relationship as GLS expands worldwide."

Newark and Minneapolis-St. Paul international airports became pioneers in the airport industry when they were commissioned to use the Honeywell/Pelorus system in January 1998. Commercial installations of the SLS-2000 also are in place in Canada and in progress in Australia and Brazil, Jackson Hole, Wyo. and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"GLS helps decrease noise by enabling aircraft to avoid long, low runway approaches," said Jeffrey Hamiel, executive director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, owner and operator of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. "We expect GLS to become the standard for airports and airlines around the world."

Robert J. Kelly, director of aviation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark, John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, said: "We congratulate Continental on achieving this aviation milestone. We believe GLS will be the pivotal component in the redesign of aviation airspace, alleviating the congestion and environmental concerns currently plaguing the world's airports."

In addition to its commercial and business aviation applications, SLS-2000 also is being utilized in military aviation and in the U.S. space program. NASA has installed the system for use with its Space Shuttle training aircraft at Cape Canaveral, Fla. and White Sands, N.M. The U.S. Armed Forces installed the SLS-2000 at Hanscom Air Force Base and Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The development program, which has culminated in operational approval and today's historic flight, began in 1995.

GPS UPDATE - SpaceDaily Special Report

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