GPS - User Segment - Aviation
User Segment
Satellite navigation is being widely used by aviators
throughout the world to overcome many of the deficiencies in today's
air traffic infrastructure. With its accurate, continuous, all-weather,
three (GPS only) and four (GPS with augmentations) dimensional coverage,
satellite navigation offers an initial navigation service that
satisfies many of the requirements of users worldwide. Unlike current
ground-based equipment, satellite navigation permits accurate aircraft
position determination anywhere on or near the surface of the earth.
More specifically, an aggressive exploitation of
satellite navigation technologies provides substantial benefits to
both the
providers of such services in the region, as well as the individual
and combined user communities. The implementation of this technology
in a country or region provides the following benefits to aviation
transportation:
- Enhanced safety of flight throughout the region
- Seamless navigation service based on a standardized navigation service
and common avionics
- More efficient, optimized, flexible, and user-preferred route structures
- Increased system capacity
- Reduced separation minimums resulting in increased capacity and capabilities
- Significant savings from shortened flight times and reduced fuel consumption
- Reduced costs to each individual State while increasing overall benefits
to individual States and the entire region
- Further economies from reduced maintenance and operation of unnecessary
ground-based systems
- Improved ground and cockpit situational awareness
- Increased landing capacity for aircraft and helicopters
Additionally, the implementation of this technology adds a margin
of safety to operations within the expected coverage area by providing
four-dimensional positioning, as opposed to the two-dimensional positioning
of traditional systems. This reduces accidents by providing a consistent
navigation capability that does not change, regardless of location, replacing
major portions of current ground-based navigation infrastructures, and
simplifying avionics suites. It also offers a precision approach capability
at any airport within that region. All aircraft equipped with certified
GPS/WAAS receivers have the needed accuracy, integrity, and availability
for them to use GPS as a primary navigation aid, and thus experience
the benefits of seamless travel.
Arrival
Aircraft arriving at the terminal area use set instructions to lead them into the local area to begin their landing approach. The current Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) are based upon the placement of navigation aids, aircraft performance, and obstructions to flight. Through more accurate and continuous position information, GPS will offer more flexible routes, easing congestion, saving time and fuel, especially at high-density airports.
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Departure
Aircraft departing from the terminal area must comply with set instructions that will lead them safely to their enroute departure point. The current standard instrument departures (SIDs) are based on factors such as navigational aids available, aircraft performance, and obstructions to flight. Because of its accurate and continuous location information, GPS will offer direct and flexible departure routed, ease congestion, and save time and fuel while maintaining high levels of safety.
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Enroute
Control and navigation of aircraft over land must rely on the use of ground hardware. Aircraft must normally fly from point to point to navigate to their destination. Flight paths are rarely direct.
With the advent of GPS, exact positional information is available to pilots. This enables direct routes, reduced flight times and reduced fuel consumption.
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Landing
Landings based on GPS will eliminate many of the time and fuel-consuming maneuvers currently in use. Additionally, GPS can enable the addition of vertical guidance to landing scenarios where this capability did not formally exist. Vertical guidance is a key component to increasing safety.
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Oceanic
Oceanic flights are out of range of ground-based surveillance systems. Controllers rely on position reports radioed periodically from pilots. Due to the time delays in receiving these reports, a significant distance must be kept between aircraft to ensure safety. GPS-equipped aircraft relay their position via digital data links through satellites to controllers. Knowing each aircraft's real-time position enables controllers to safely reduce aircraft separation, which increases capacity, reduces fuel consumption, and optimizes flight routes.
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Surface
Surface traffic at airports is frequently busy. Controlling and monitoring that traffic becomes increasingly difficult as visibility decreases. The FAA is examining ways to use GPS with other technologies to help identify and locate surface vehicles during all kinds of weather conditions. That information could be used to help aviators and controllers safely navigate in the surface environment.
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