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| Smart Pilots Fly with GPS
| By:
James Bunter | |
Amelia Earhart had just enough technology to make it approximately 22,000 miles of the 29,000 mile around the world journey that was her quest. If the GPS (Global Positioning System) had been available to her, no doubt she would have found and landed on Howland Island in the mid-Pacific Ocean in July of 1937.
Smart pilots today take advantage of the GPS technology that is available to anyone: hikers, drivers, boaters, and flyers. Even the latest versions of wireless phones are being equipped with GPS.
The United States Department of Defense developed the Global Positioning System in the 70’s with its official name being NAVSTAR GPS. The initial use was for military purposes. In 1983, the Soviets shot down Korean Air Lines flight 007 for wandering into Soviet airspace. Two hundred sixty-nine passengers were killed. This prompted President Ronald Regan to issue a directive that, when completed, the Global Positioning System would be made available, at no charge, for worldwide civilian use.
The Global Positioning System is comprised of three components: a constellation of 24 or more earth orbiting satellites sending precise microwave signals, control and monitoring stations on earth, and receivers. Each receiver picks up signals that supply three-dimensional location of latitude, longitude, and altitude, plus time. This provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to civilian users.
The Global Positioning System is a dual technology, having uses in both military and civilian use. To prevent an enemy from using the GPS guidance component for military or weaponry purposes, the US government controls the parameters of exported civilian GPS receivers.
The three basic components of GPS are absolute location, relative movement, and time transfer. The absolute location component is used as a surveying tool or as an aid to navigation. The fourth dimension of GPS, time, is becoming an increasingly critical element to many industries. Each satellite contains multiple atomic clocks that contribute very precise time data to the GPS signals. Time can be determined within 100 billionths of a second. Communications systems, power grids, and financial networks use this precise calibration of time. Hollywood studios use the GPS time component to control audio and video data and for multi-camera sequencing.
Aviation has benefited tremendously from GPS. That is because the Global Positioning System provides continuous, reliable, and accurate positioning information for all phases of flight. It has enabled flexible, fuel efficient and safe routes for airspace users. GPS has reduced aircraft delays by permitting a reduction in separation minimum between the aircraft and has increased the efficiency of air traffic management.
Because the advantages of having GPS onboard far out weigh the cost of the receiver, no pilots should fly without access to GPS. Sure, you may be able to get a deal from eBay, but is it worth the risk? If you are in the market, purchase your receiver from a reputable company that has extensive knowledge of aircraft and the aviation industry.
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| For an avid pilot like James Bunter, having an Garmin Aviation GPS unit is more important than owning a car. That’s because James knows how important his pilot headsets is to each flight he takes. He doesn’t want to chance it in the air, so he goes to TGH Aviation supply for all of his aviation supply needs. Article Source : Ultimate Article Directory |
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