GPS Failures due soon?

[Channel Ribs]

I just read on the YBW site that the US Airforce forgot to send up replacement satellites, anyone heard similar?

[chris123]

There is a bit more info here:

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/GPS-Co...ouble-6997.php

Cheers

Chris

[250kts]

Cant comment on whether the US forgot to send up replacements, but certainly NO threat to GPS.

As the vast majority of both civil and military flights are using this as there primary navigation tool now, I cannot see this being allowed to happen. Would make for very interesting times trying to keep them apart! Mind you it would make the job more interesting whilst the traffic has dropped so much .........

[PeterM]

This story seems to pop up every few years - but as 250 says as the majority of military & civial flights ( let alone marine & land based users ) rely on this I dont think it will ever happen. The global impact of GPS dropping away is just not viable. The military will see to that - even then if we go back to the days of selective availablity & deliberate errors on the system to stop the civil users there are ways around it now.

[SeaSkills]

Probably not, but if you listen to some stories it's all about to come to an end. If you fancy a longish and not particularly interesting read, this is the study that has the detail http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09325.pdf

If you want a more readable version - try this http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Tec...y_Office_Warns

[Bigmuz7]

Isn't navigation by traditional methods still a critical part of Navy/forces training ?

[m chappelow]

it should not make any difference to us seafarers , we can all fall back on to the basics paper charts and compasses ,dividers ,carn,t we .......lol.

[chewy]

Some of us can Mart.

[havener]

Originally Posted by 250kts

Cant comment on whether the US forgot to send up replacements, but certainly NO threat to GPS.

As the vast majority of both civil and military flights are using this as there primary navigation tool now, I cannot see this being allowed to happen. Would make for very interesting times trying to keep them apart! Mind you it would make the job more interesting whilst the traffic has dropped so much .........

As an aside, whilst GPS may play a part in aircraft navigation systems, it doesn't have role in keeping them apart - this is done by ATC using primary and secondary radars, Mode S and various other little gizmos. It doesn't rely at all on the aircraft being able to tell ATC where it is, ATC already knows that, especially as GPS is two dimensional.

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by havener

especially as GPS is two dimensional.

are you sure? most gps will give altitude readings - and I think they all need to take it into account to accurately calculate long/lat.