NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM: Problems Plaguing the Wide Area Augmentation System and FAA's Actions to Address Them
Abstract
In the 1980s, FAA decided to augment GPS with other navigational aids WAAS and the Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) to satisfy civil aviation requirements. However, at this time, civil aviation relies principally on a ground-based navigation system that uses various types of equipment to provide navigation and landing services to pilots in different types of weather. This equipment meets FAAs performance requirements for accuracy, integrity, and availability;3however, it is aging and has limitations in its geographic coverage. Although the Department of Defense developed GPS to support military missions and functions, it is now a dual-use system that other users, such as pilots and boaters, rely on to calculate their time, speed, and position anywhere on or above the earths surface.4 Last month, in an effort to make GPS more useful to civilians, Defense ceased its practice of intentionally degrading the accuracy of the GPS signal available for civil use.5Even with the improvements in accuracy and other planned Defense improvements, GPS will not satisfy all civil aviation requirements for ensuring safe aircraft operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 29, 2000
- Accession Number
- AD1181012
Entities
People
- Gerald L. Dillingham
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office