Overview
HEDGE Next is framed as follow up of activities initiated under previous HEDGE activity. This new project phase aims at completing the operational implementation of EGNOS operations into the rotorcraft domain, by supporting the certification of vehicles and validation of EGNOS enhanced operations from different operators spread over Europe.
HEDGE Next in addition includes an important part on R&D, towards the full exploitation of EGNOS services into the rotorcraft sector. Those initiatives are either identified and recommended to pursue during the first phase of the activity, or upcoming from parallel activities participated by the Consortia leader under Clean Sky framework, and as such endorsed by Eurocopter and Augusta Westland R&D strategy.
More precisely HEDGE Next will target the following objectives:
- To operationally implement Rotorcraft EGNOS APV (Approach with Vertical Guidance) in the selected sites in Spain, Poland and Switzerland.
- To achieve the certification of different helicopters models based on the abovementioned sites (potential users of instrument flight procedures based on GNSS).
- To create low-level RNAV routes that intercept the SOAP (SBAS Offshore Approach Procedure) procedure in the North Sea
- To move forward on the development, test and validation of curved approaches for rotorcraft helicopters using GPS and SBAS as sensor: PinS RNP-AR concept
- To develop a “e-VFR” navigation module in order to enhance the navigation of helicopters in marginal VFR conditions
The proposed activities are well endorsed and aligned with the main European rotorcraft manufacturers and operators strategies, towards the full implementation of GNSS based operations, and in particular enhanced by EGNOS. The work performed on HEDGE Next shall contribute to the future introduction of operations enhanced by Galileo and multi-constellation avionics.