Press Release

Issued by Aviation South West.

August 28, 2014

History was made in the early hours on Thursday 21st August 2014 when a Beech 76 operated by Aviation South West successfully flew the first ever operational LPV approach in the UK into Exeter Airport.

The aircraft, equipped with an approved Garmin 530W installation, started the approach at the BATSU initial fix at 0002Z (two minutes past one am local time) and landed on runway 26 some eight minutes later. Both pilots commented on the amazing stability of the cockpit indications and how accurately the approach could be flown. Indeed, the co-pilot thought the autopilot was still engaged.

“We can now understand why so many commercial transport aircraft have been electing to fly the LNAV rather than the ILS here at Exeter,” said the pilot, “with LPV there is an equal accuracy applied to the vertical profile.”

Had there been any problems? “Only one,” commented the pilot, “we were ready to roll just before midnight local time, but ATC reminded us that the approach would become operational at midnight GMT. The extra hour sitting waiting went very slowly!”