EASA SIB 2026-09: Inadequate Protection of SBAS-Based Instrument Approach Procedures

What to do

National Competent Authorities should assess the risk posed by this issue and implement mitigation measures such as adjusting obstacle clearance altitudes or restricting procedure use where necessary. Flight procedure designers must evaluate new and existing SBAS procedures against updated criteria and publish the highest obstacle clearance altitudes. Aircraft operators should revise their company-specific instrument flight procedures accordingly and report risk assessments and mitigation actions to EASA within 70 calendar days of the bulletin's issue date.

Summary

EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2026-09 addresses the inadequate protection of Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) based instrument approach procedures, specifically those using APV-I and Precision Approach Category I criteria. The bulletin highlights that some published Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) procedures may not provide the intended obstacle clearance protection for all eligible aircraft due to assumptions in navigation system performance. This affects flight procedure design providers, air traffic services, and aircraft operators involved with SBAS-based approaches.

What changed

EASA SIB 2026-09 identifies a safety concern where the current design criteria for SBAS-based instrument approaches rely on assumptions about aircraft navigation performance that are not always valid. It proposes reassessment and potential mitigation measures such as raising LPV obstacle clearance altitudes or restricting certain procedures. The bulletin also notes ongoing ICAO and industry reviews that may lead to future updates in standards and procedures.

Why it matters

This bulletin matters because it impacts the safety and regulatory compliance of SBAS-based instrument approach procedures, which are widely used in modern aviation. Operators and procedure designers must ensure that approach minima provide adequate obstacle clearance to prevent potential safety risks. Compliance teams need to be aware of these issues to implement necessary mitigations and maintain operational safety standards.