Croatia Airlines upgrades Dash capabilities

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Croatia Airlines has begun the installation of LPV capabilities (Localizer performance with vertical guidance) on its six-strong Bombarider Dash 8 turboprop fleet. The project, which is being co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility, aims to upgrade the aircraft with equipment capable of using the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) and the GALILEO satellite network. The current GPS/GLONASS receivers will be replaced by a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), which will grant RNP approach capability down to the localizer precision approach with vertical guidance minima. "Croatia Airlines' daily operations are based at airports active in RNP approach implementation, including LPV approaches, and the company intends to follow this modern global navigational trend. Furthermore, the number of RNP/LPV approaches available increases the number of airports which could be of our potential interest", the airline said in a statement. It added, "The benefits of this project are numerous. The technical characteristics of our turboprop aircraft will be enhanced and after the implementation of the new equipment, we will commence with additional crew training for new procedures and implementation of the new LPV availability in everyday operations. We expect to achieve less fuel consumption, less CO, NOx emission, as well as better time in air/distance ratio. Following the completion of the project in 2019, we will establish a more robust and safer operation for our customers, while at the same time becoming a more efficient and eco-friendly airline in the European sky".