Section 4. Global Positioning System (GPS)

5-4-1. ACTIONS REQUIRED

When providing GPS orientation services to an aircraft in emergency status:

a. Determine if the aircraft is in VFR or IFR weather conditions, fuel remaining, altitude, and heading.

b. If the aircraft is operating in IFR weather conditions, coordinate with the appropriate control facility.

c. Determine if the aircraft is on a flight plan. If the aircraft is not on an IFR flight plan and is in VFR weather conditions, advise the pilot to remain VFR.

5-4-2. GPS ORIENTATION

When using GPS orientation, determine the aircraft's position as follows:

a. Position fixing.

1. Advise the pilot to remain VFR and provide the local altimeter setting.

PHRASEOLOGY-
MAINTAIN V­F­R AT ALL TIMES. ADVISE IF HEADING OR ALTITUDE CHANGE IS NECESSARY TO REMAIN V­F­R. (Location) ALTIMETER (setting).

2. Obtain heading and altitude. Advise the pilot to maintain straight and level flight and to align the heading indicator with the magnetic compass.

PHRASEOLOGY-
MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLIGHT. RESET YOUR HEADING INDICATOR TO AGREE WITH YOUR MAGNETIC COMPASS. AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THIS, SAY YOUR HEADING AND ALTITUDE.

3. Determine the weather conditions and fuel status.

PHRASEOLOGY-
WHAT IS THE WEATHER AT YOUR ALTITUDE AND FUEL REMAINING IN TIME.

4. Advise the pilot to maintain the same heading, verify the aircraft has GPS equipment, and determine the airspeed.

PHRASEOLOGY-
CONTINUE HEADING (degrees). WHAT TYPE OF NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT DO YOU HAVE ON BOARD, AND WHAT IS YOUR AIRSPEED?

b. Orientation.

1. Advise pilot to turn on GPS or if GPS is turned on advise pilot to turn it off and back on.

2. Advise pilot to report when GPS is initialized.

NOTE-
This procedure ensures the GPS unit is not in simulator mode and does not have data displayed that may be misinterpreted.

3. Ask pilot for position information.

(a) Latitude and longitude

(b) Fix radial distance from NAVAID, airport, or fix

4. Plot the position of aircraft.

NOTE-
The position is the aircraft's position at the time of the GPS reading.

5. Advise the pilot of the aircraft's position and the safe altitude for orientation in that area.

PHRASEOLOGY-
YOU ARE (miles) (direction) OF THE (name) NAVAID/AIRPORT. THE SAFE ALTITUDE FOR ORIENTATIONS IN THAT AREA IS (feet).

6. Notify the appropriate control facility. Provide all required information including the aircraft's position and heading.

7. Request pilot's intentions and provide assistance, as requested.

PHRASEOLOGY-
WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS?

5-4-3. GUIDANCE TO AIRPORT

After establishing the aircraft's position and if the pilot requests guidance to the airport:

a. Plot the course to the airport.

b. Provide the course guidance information to the pilot.

1. Advise the pilot of the direction of the turn and the heading to the airport.

PHRASEOLOGY-
FOR A HEADING TO THE (name) AIRPORT, TURN LEFT/RIGHT HEADING (degrees). REPORT ESTABLISHED HEADING (degrees).

2. After the pilot reports established on the heading to the airport, advise the pilot of the position in relation to the airport.

PHRASEOLOGY-
YOU ARE (miles) (direction) OF THE (name) AIRPORT. CONTINUE HEADING (degrees).

3. Continue to provide assistance in the form of pilotage and airport information as necessary.

PHRASEOLOGY-
DO YOU SEE ANY PROMINENT LANDMARKS?

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE (name) AIRPORT?

(Name) AIRPORT FIELD ELEVATION (feet). IT HAS (number and surface type) RUNWAYS. THE RUNWAY/S RUN (direction). THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED (direction/distance) FROM (landmark visible to the aircraft).

4. Advise the pilot to report the landing airport in sight.

PHRASEOLOGY-
REPORT AIRPORT IN SIGHT.

5. Determine when the pilot no longer needs assistance.

PHRASEOLOGY-
DO YOU REQUIRE FURTHER ASSISTANCE?

6. When the pilot indicates assistance is no longer required, terminate the service. Provide the CTAF frequency, if appropriate, and the local altimeter setting.

PHRASEOLOGY-
(GPS) ORIENTATION SERVICE TERMINATED. COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (frequency). ALTIMETER (setting).

NOTE-
CTAF is defined as a UNICOM, Multicom, FSS, or ATCT frequency.

7. Notify appropriate control facility of the aircraft's position, termination of services, and the pilot's intentions.