The certification and operational approval of GBAS-based operations is dependent on the national regulations. The regulator should be involved since the beggining of the GBAS implementation process along with other stakeholders for smooth conduct of certification process.
The common steps in certification are:
- System design approval (SDA): refers to the certification of the system as a product. Each state may have a procedure to do the SDA or validate the SDA done by another country.
- Facility approval: refers to the certification of the installation, with the compliance of all the requirements of the product installed in a specific location and condition.
- Operational approval: refers to proper operation, and involves existence of regulations, personnel training and all operational process defined and documented.
The approvals follow this six-phase certification process:
The Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP)/aerodrome operator and relevant stakeholders should convene a meeting with the regulator(pre‐application meeting) for ascertaining all the requirements to be met, during the approval process.
The operator should submit the formal application to the regulator, accompanied with all the relevant documentation.
The regulator should evaluate the documentation to determine their conformance with ICAO SARPs and national regulations. As a result of this review and evaluation, the regulator may accept, suggest certain changes or reject the formal application along with the documentation.
The regulator should carry out the physical inspection of GBAS ground facility and demonstration of intended capability including simulator and/or flight trial, if required. Once the regulator accepts or approves the changes made based on documentation review and the satisfactory outcome of Inspection and Demonstration, the relevant stakeholders should:
- Provide the respective training to its personnel
- Implement the operational demonstration
Once all the aforementioned steps have been completed satisfactorily, the regulator should issue the relevant approval.
The Post‐implementation review should be carried out and the system and operational performance should be monitored on a regular basis. The reports in respect of accuracy, integrity, availability, and continuity should be prepared and shared with the regulator on a periodic basis. Any major degradation in service or breach of terms and conditions may lead to withdrawal/cancellation of certificate.
The regulatory authority of the State of the Operator should consider issuing GBAS Landing System (GLS) operational approval to commercial air transport operators, based on aircraft manufacturer's certification of on‐board GLS equipment as documented in the aircraft flight manual, operator's GLS training programmes, GLS operating procedures, maintenance arrangement, navigation database, minimum equipment list, etc. The GLS operational approval should specify any limitations on proposed operations as deemed necessary.
In Europe, Regulation (EU) 2023/1768 provides the applicable regulatory framework on conformity assessment of ATM/ANS equipment. The steps become:
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Declaration of Design compliance refers to the compliance of the design and production of the navigation ground equipment with the detailed specifications for that equipment that have been issued by the competent authority (EASA). This declaration is issued by an organization involved in its design and production that has been approved as such (DPO) by the Competent Authority under Regulation (EU) 2023/1769. As a transitional provision, before 12th September 2028, new or modified ground equipment can be put into service with a Statement of Compliance issued by the ATM/ANS provider or alternatively by a DPO upon ATM/ANS provider request.
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Operational approval can be obtained once the ATM/ANS service provider confirms that the ground equipment complies with the applicable requirements, following installation and on-site tests and the identification of potential deviations from the applicable requirements. It is issued by the National Competent Authority.
