EGNOS - European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service   EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, is Europe's first venture into the field of satellite navigation and paves the way for Galileo, Europe's independent global satellite navigation system currently under development. EGNOS is operational and available for use with both an Open Service and a Safety-of-Life Service for aviation.

Programme
 

The development of EGNOS was managed by the European Space Agency (ESA) under a tripartite agreement with the European Commission (EC) and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol).

The ownership of the EGNOS assets was transferred from ESA to the EC in April 2009 and EGNOS officially entered service on 1 October 2009. The service is delivered, through a contract with the EC, by the European Satellite Services Provider, ESSP SaS, founded by seven air navigation service providers. ESA is the design and procurement agent on behalf of the EC.

Open Serrvice
 

On 1st October 2009, the European Commission declared that EGNOS' basic navigation signal is operationally ready as an open and free service.

EGNOS Open Service provides Europeans with unprecedented positioning precision by improving the accuracy of GPS.

The continuous monitoring of the EGNOS signal shows that it improves the accuracy of GPS to within one to two metres and is available more than 99 percent of the time. By comparison, someone using a GPS receiver that is not EGNOS enabled can only be sure of its position to within 17 metres.

In announcing the availability of the Open Service, the Commission confirms that this level of performance is available for the long term and that the signal can be used without any charges. Receiver manufacturers and application developers are able to provide their customers with the benefits of the GPS performance improvements simply by adding EGNOS capability to their products. No authorisation or receiver-specific certification is required.

Applications

A. Increased applications of EGNOS and GALILEO B. European Commission's priority domains of applications C. The specificity of Galileo PRS applications D. European Commission's cross-cutting measures to foster GNSS pervasiveness E. Reference documents, links and contact

Brochures and leaflets

• EGNOS Safety of Life Service Definition Document V1.0
• Brochure on Europe's Satellite Navigation Programmes - Galileo and EGNOS
• GNSS Applications

...more

Safety-of-Life Service
 

On 2 March 2011, the European Commission launched the EGNOS Safety-of-Life Service for aviation.
The system enables precision approaches, rendering air navigation safer. It also helps reducing delays, diversions and cancellation of flights. The EGNOS Safety-of-Life Service also allows airports to increase their capacity and to cut operating costs. Last, it contributes to CO2 emissions reduction in the sector.

• Read the press release: New european satellite navigation service increases aviation safety

For further information see:
 

EGNOS (http://egnos-portal.gsa.europa.eu)

EC (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/satnav/egnos/index_en.htm)

Navipedia (http://www.navipedia.net/index.php/Category:EGNOS)