Horizon Air became the first scheduled passenger carrier to operate revenue flights using GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) approach procedures, the Seattle-based airline said Jan. 8.

On Dec. 30, Horizon Air Flight 2014, a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop equipped with dual UNS-1Ew flight management systems (FMS) from Universal Avionics, departed Portland, Ore., for Seattle-Tahoma Airport. This was the first regional airline passenger flight with certified, WAAS-enabled FMS providing guidance for a WAAS approach procedure, according to Horizon.

“Horizon Air has long been committed to innovation and technical excellence, and we're particularly proud to be spearheading the use of this new technology, which holds the promise of benefiting many thousands of customers in years to come,” said Jeff Pinneo, president and CEO.

Later on Dec. 30, Horizon said a second Horizon flight became the first Part 121 passenger flight to complete a WAAS Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV) guidance approach procedure. Unlike required navigation performance (RNP) approaches, which are only available for use at airports after an extensive certification process, WAAS approaches can be used at any airport where the navigation database has been updated.

Horizon Air, a sister carrier of Alaska Airlines, is upgrading its fleet of 40 Q400s with Universal’s WAAS-enabled FMS. FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for installation of the UNS-1Ew system in the Q400 was issued on Nov. 23. The STC is owned by Canard Aerospace Corp., based in Shakopee, Minn., which provided certification services and design engineering for this project.

Currently, Horizon said it has one WAAS-equipped Q400, with Universal’s FMS. FAA has agreed to support WAAS upgrades on six more Horizon Q400s. In return, Horizon will provide FAA with flight data on 300 flights, according to the airline.

Emily Feliz is the managing editor of Avionics Magazine. She can be reached at efeliz@accessintel.com or 301-354-1820.

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