The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) is the most important institution responsible for the correct operation of some 150 ground-based air traffic aids and validation of instrument flight procedures in Poland. In service since 1963, PANSA’s Flight Inspection Service offers the following services:
PANSA's Flight Inspection Service performs commissioning, periodic, ad hoc and categorising inspections and measurements of CNS infrastructure: instrument landing systems (ILS CAT I, II, III), omnidirectional range equipment (VOR and DVOR) and non-directional beacons (NDB), distance measuring equipment (DME), light navigation aids (approach light systems, or ALS, and runway light systems), precision approach path indicators (PAPI) and air traffic control radars.
PANSA's Flight Inspection Service plays a very important role, for the sole on-ground supervision of radio navigation aids, most of which are managed by PANSA, and light systems, managed by individual airports and aeroclubs, does not give a 100% guarantee that the radio and light signals received by aircraft instruments are correct and within the required tolerances.
PANSA’s Flight Inspection Service is the only entity in Poland that validates newly established and existing instrument flight procedures – conventional and area navigation (RNAV) procedures based on DME-DME distance measuring equipment and on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). To cater for the progressing Europe-wide implementation of ground based augmentation systems (GBAS) used for satellite-based support of precision landing of aircraft, flight inspection services will be provided to check these types of systems and validate the related flight procedures.
Validation flights for RNAV instrument flight procedures (RNAV LPV) are particularly important. It turns out in practice that possible FAS DATA BLOCK errors can be detected prior to the final publication of the flight procedure, during preparations for a validation flight or during the validation flight based on a test database in the Flight Management System (FMS). The test database is a dedicated flight procedure database provided by the avionics manufacturer on order from PANSA’s Flight Inspection Service.
PANSA's Flight Inspection Service is the only entity in Europe that investigates the impact of counter-drone/UAV systems on CNS infrastructure. Tests of counter-drone/UAV systems conducted by end users – e.g. airports, aeroclubs, law enforcement and security services, critical infrastructure facilities and counter-drone/UAV manufacturers - are essential to ensure the highest level of safety.
PANSA's Flight Inspection Service provides its services in accordance with guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), including DOC ICAO 8071 Annex 10 and 14 and DOC ICAO 9906, as well as regulations issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Polish Civil Aviation Authority. The process results in the issue of relevant protocols.
To fulfil its validation and measurement functions, PANSA's Flight Inspection Service operates two aircraft, Beechcraft King Air 350 and L-410 UVP-E 15 "Turbolet", nicknamed "Parrots", which are equipped with AD-AFIS-130 real-time analysis systems manufactured by German Aerodata, the global leader in designing and manufacturing of testing and measuring devices. The services of PANSA's Flight Inspection Service are provided by an experienced staff of measurement inspectors, pilots, aircraft engineers and support personnel who have many years of experience in working for PANSA and other aviation institutions.
Our work does not involve only verification of correct functioning of ground-based light and radio aids. Thanks to our experienced measurement inspectors, pilots, aircraft engineers and support personnel, we are able to pre-emptively advise our Clients – airport managers on any required changes or needs to replace their equipment. (Grzegorz Hlebowicz, Business Development Promotion Specialist, 15 years of experience at PANSA)
Since when I can remember, the functioning of our approach light systems, runway light systems or precision approach path indicators PAPI has been verified by PANSA’s measurement and testing aircraft. Poland’s oldest airport holds a high opinion of the work performed by PANSA’s Flight Inspection Service. (Mariusz Wiatrowski, President of Poznań-Ławica Airport)
