In 1994 Steve Hickok began the initial flight tests that led to development and implementation of the first FAA-approved GPS Rnav helicopter instrument approaches. Probably no one–least of all Hickok himself–could foresee that 16 years later he would be an FAA designee (to date the only one) to develop, test, validate and oversee commissioning of GPS wide area Augmentation system, lateral performance [with] Vertical [guidance] or “Waas LPV” helicopter approaches.
This week his consulting firm, Stephen Hickok & Associates, is at Booth No. 2910 acquainting prospective clients with what it takes to get a private-use Waas LPV approach designed, approved and published. Hickok & Associates, said Hickok is currently the only FAA-approved Waas LPV helicopter approach developer. Most of the 12 clients for whom his firm has obtained these approaches have been medical centers or emergency medical services operators.
