The Qantas Group has unveiled the new precision GPS Landing System (GLS) that uses satellite technology to make landings more efficient, accurate and more environmentally friendly.

Qantas chief pilot Capt Chris Manning said the landmark technology behind the new system had been developed by Boeing, Honeywell and AirServices Australia with proving and testing done by Qantas.

GLS, he said, had more accurate and stable tracking information than conventional approach systems, could be coupled to flexible, curved approach paths, and provided more fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly flight paths to the runway.

Capt Manning said it also provided accurate approach paths to runways that were previously unable to accommodate conventional instrument landing systems.

"The system is supported by Ground-Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS) located at airfields, which provide GPS information to the aircraft via a data link system and allow for a tracking accuracy typically less than one metre," he said.

"One GBAS provides for up to 90 approaches within a 23 nautical mile radius, unlike conventional Instrument Landing Systems which require an installation for every runway - for example, the three runways at Sydney Airport require two Instrument Landing Systems for each runway," he said.

The technology is now available on a large number of the airline's fleet of Boeing 737-800s, the Boeing 787s and the coming Airbus A380.