The European Commission Directorate General for Energy and Transport has recently awarded a contract to a team led by Helios Technology to contribute to the development of a European Radio Navigation Plan (ERNP) and to support European Radio Navigation policy. The team includes Telematica of Germany, General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland, INECO of Spain and the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

There are three phases to the study: inventory, system qualification and implementation. There is a consultation process at the end of each phase to review progress with users, industry experts and member-state stakeholders. The study started in December and will conclude in September.

The ERNP is needed to concentrate EU-level resources on core radionavigation systems to promote trans-European and global safe multi-modal transportation and mission-critical operations, said Dr. Sally Basker, Helios Technology’s project manager. The ERNP should improve travel and trade in the enlarged European Union, possibly resulting in less expensive products and services and improved safety through standardization and certification.