A European satellite navigation programme

A European Tri-Partite Group (ETG) of EUROCONTROL, the European Space Agency and the European Commission has set up a common programme to implement satellite navigation in Europe. This programme is multi-modal and multi-sectorial in its scope and covers first and second-generation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS1 and GNSS2). It shall be accessible to all potential users and will form a major part of Europe´s overall contribution to the world-wide implementation of GNSS. Initial work has concentrated on preparing the successful proposal to Inmarsat to lease transponders for a European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) which forms a component of GNSS1. Work on other augmentations to GPS and GLONASS within GNSS1 continue while studies on GNSS2 have already started. ESA, EUROCONTROL and national regulatory authorities are already discussing how to certificate GNSS as a total system. In parallel, a GNSS test and validation strategy is being prepared towards which activities already under way are being oriented