My point was simply that although the FAA has started approval GPS in
some situations, commercial flights, in particular large jets flying
into major cities, do not rely on GPS.

AnchorLt implied that anyone flying at the time of a GPS outage could be
in for "an ending." I think that commercial flights would be able to
cope since they do not rely exclusively on GPS. "me" rather rudely
pointed out the the FAA has begun approving GPS in some situations, some
I pointed out a few days ago, but missed the point the GPS is not the
sole means used by commercial aircraft.

I appreciate that there may be some situations GPS is the only way to
get into some airports, and that there may be not other backup. But
this scenario would apply to very few, if any commercial aircraft today.

Curiously, the scenario I remember given when SA was removed in 2000 was
that the 300 foot uncertainty in location meant that rescue vehicles
might go to the wrong side of a divided highway, causing perhaps fatal
delays. I wonder if the administration has some breakdown of the cost
in lives, accidents, and economic loss if GPS were shut down?


Jim Donohue wrote:
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...


Are you sure of that? Are you really claiming that the thousands of jets
that are in the air now completely rely on GPS and would be unable to land
without it? Are you actually telling me that when I board a 757 to go to
FL for Christmas the only nav system on board will be a GPS?


I am not sure what point you are making. There are airport approaches that
can only be executed by a GPS equipped airplane. So under at least some
weather conditions the only way to get into that airport is to fly a GPS
approach.

There are airplanes under the existing regulations that lack equipment that
used to be required for some instrument approaches.

All airplanes can of course resort to visual approaches. So when everything
breaks, you can run for a place where you can see. Note though that
occassionally there are no such places available.

I am not aware of any precision approach that has been approved for GPS.
Maybe Me knows something I don't. If so I would like to see a reference.

There appears no doubt in the direction of the FAA that the system will go
entirely GPS eventually...but that point is still many years in the future.
The present state is one of transition...changing from the procedures of
VOR/DME to those of GPS. So every year more and more of the procedures will
be GPS.


JIm Donohue