The contemplated system would be designed and proposed as a solution to the FAA's need for a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Space Segment and would be financed through a consortium of investors. The RPS would provide world-wide augmentation to the existing Global Positioning System (GPS) through signals broadcast from dedicated geostationary satellites, thus enabling GPS to serve as the backbone for future air traffic navigation.

The proposed RPS would be deployed into three global regions with initial service provided to North, Central, and South America, as well as the adjacent ocean regions. This first phase service to the Americas would be planned to coincide with the FAA's service need date for implementing the WAAS Space Segment. The system would be expanded into a seamless global capability as other regional customers commit to the service.

"We have integrated Lockheed Martin's leadership positions in air traffic management, space systems and GPS ground systems to respond to the global need for an affordable approach to modernizing air traffic management," commented Don Antonucci, president of Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management (LMATM). Antonucci, whose business unit is leading the Corporation's pursuit of this venture, continued, "The filing is an integral and critical step in our plan to meet current customer needs and to create a global commercial navigation service business."

The RPS service undertaking would include partners who would provide the venture capital to fully implement the system. "While the licensing approval is in process, we will be lining up venture partners and focusing on securing commitments from anchor tenants who will buy these services," Antonucci said. "We are interested in regional and international partners and have identified multiple opportunities for partners to participate as the separate regions are deployed." Besides the FAA, other potential aviation community customers include civil aviation authorities of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.

In conjunction with ground networks, RPS would provide a high precision navigation signal to enable Category I Precision Approach landings, in all weather conditions. The system would operate in tandem with existing navigation satellites to provide a differential error correction signal. "The first benefits of RPS will be realized through improved productivity and safety in the commercial air transport industry," said Nick Rossi, LMATM senior vice president in charge of the project. "In addition to broadcasting safety-of-life navigation information, it will also enable aircraft to operate in closer proximity and use more direct routes, decreasing fuel consumption and increasing aircraft utilization along with other CNS/ATM initiatives."

Ultimately, the global system of dedicated satellites would provide worldwide landmass and oceanic coverage. Fred Bay, Lockheed Martin's RPS architect commented, "The long range goal is a seamless global air traffic management architecture. So in addition to WAAS, the proposed RPS would be compatible with other satellite-based navigation systems, including the Japanese Multi-function Transportation Satellite (MTSAT) Augmentation System and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS)."

The RPS project leverages the capabilities of several Lockheed Martin companies with critical technology credentials and experience, including: Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management, a provider of air traffic management systems; Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, a provider of defense and commercial satellites; and Lockheed Martin Mission Systems, a provider of GPS ground system infrastructure and software.

GPS UPDATE - SpaceDaily Special Report

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