The Safety Assessment and Certification process should fundamentally demonstrate that the Service provided will be acceptably safe during and after the implementation of the GBAS. Early engagement with the Regulator on the approach to certification and Regulatory involvement in certification activities is critical to achieving a successful outcome.
The Safety Assessment process could involve two key components:
- System Safety: This should demonstrate that the system as designed and operated in accordance with approved practices is safe. Previous certification may allow States to leverage the existing certification evidence to expedite the System Safety assessment process.
- Service Safety: This should demonstrate that the Certified System installed within the local environment will be acceptably safe. This may include:
- Demonstration that the local ionosphere conditions and spectrum environment are adequate to support the intended level of service.
- Demonstration that there has been an adequate level of assurance that critical GBAS data has been validated.
- Demonstration that local regulations and requirements have been met.
- Demonstration of proper adaptation of the ATM/ANS environments to the foreseen GBAS approach operations.
- Demonstration that all relevant procedures have been adequately updated and all relevant training has been adequately defined and delivered
The safety certification could include:
Demonstration the concept of operations has been adequately defined and documented. This should address the question how will the GBAS integrate and operate within the states Air Traffic Management System.
Demonstration that safety management activities have been conducted for the system as a whole and that identified hazard controls have been incorporated into the design and implementation.
Demonstration that the system has gone through adequate system design and implementation process. Demonstration that the design and implementation meets legislative requirements and conforms with ICAO SARPS.
Demonstration that the necessary sustainment systems are in place, which are adequately defined with acceptable controls in place to reduce the risk to acceptable level.
Demonstration that Operational Testing has been adequately defined, completed and that the level of risk is acceptable. Any lessons learnt from Operational Testing have been integrated into GBAS operations.
Demonstration that GBAS landing operations are defined, Support Systems updated and the level of risk acceptable.
Once all of the elements have been addressed, a comprehensive Safety Case can be developed and presented to the Regulator.
