FAA's GEO 5 WAAS payload operational and integrated into network
NewsJune 22, 2018
DULLES, Va. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting 5 (GEO 5) Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) navigation payload is now operational and fully integrated into the WAAS network, officials announce.
The GEO 5 WAAS payload -- developed by Raytheon's Intelligence, Information, and Services business -- joins two others already on orbit in correcting GPS satellite signal ionospheric disturbances, timing issues, and minor orbit adjustments, giving users increased coverage, improved accuracy, and better reliability.
WAAS provides precision navigation service to users across the United States from Maine to Alaska, as well as portions of Canada and Mexico. For aviation users, WAAS offers pilots more direct flight paths, precision airport approaches and access to remote landing sites without depending on local ground-based landing systems.
Raytheon is the system integrator on the GEO 5 system, which includes a WAAS navigation payload on Eutelsat's GEO satellite, two ComSAT ground sites, and SED Systems specialized equipment.
