Article: 525 of rec.aviation.ifr Newsgroups: rec.aviation.misc,rec.aviation.ifr Path: newshost.ncd.com!ncd.com!olivea!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!noc.near.net!das-news.harvard.edu!cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!dst From: dst+@cs.cmu.edu (Dave Touretzky) Subject: FAA approves GPS for IFR! Message-ID: Sender: news@cs.cmu.edu (Usenet News System) Nntp-Posting-Host: dst.boltz.cs.cmu.edu Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1993 00:24:56 GMT Lines: 56 Xref: newshost.ncd.com rec.aviation.misc:2780 rec.aviation.ifr:525 From the July issue of AOPA Pilot, pages 33 and 42. Reprinted without permission. So sue me. FAA Approves GPS for IFR (by Thomas A. Horne) At a news conference on June 8, Acting FAA Administrator Joseph M. Del Balzo announced that GPS has been approved for use by U.S. civil aircraft operators as primary IFR flight guidance on many nonprecision approaches. Approval also was granted for GPS usage in the oceanic and domestic enroute environments.... The approval will allow pilots with approved GPS receivers and installations to begin flying approximately 5,000 nonprecision approaches to some 2,500 airports immediately. Under this first phase of GPS implementation, GPS receivers currently manufactured under TSO-C115a can be used, provided traditional VOR and NDB signals are used as supplemental navigation. GPS may not be used in conjunction with localizer, [SDF, and LDA] nonprecision approaches. Those flying with GPS must fly the courses and bearings published on existing approach chartts. GPS navigation may also be used to fly off-airway direct routes in the enroute environment, as long as operative VOR equipment is aboard. When initial operational capability (IOC) is granted, Phase II will begin. At that time, those having GPS receivers complying with the latest standards (TSO-C129) may navigate without VOR or NDB monitoring during nonprecision approaches to airports of first intneded destination. Approaches used at airports named as alternates under IFR must be flown using supplemental guidance. IOC will require the complete constellation of 24 GPS satellites (23 are now in orbit), as well as final signal testing by the Department of Defense. According to Del Balzo, IOC is expected by early November. With Phase III, GPS will be authorized as the sole means of navigation in the enroute and nonprecision approach environments. Phase III is expected by late 1994 and is dependent upon satisfactory operational experience under the first two phases. "We found [in the nonprecision approach tests] that GPS provided much better guidance than that available using VOR or NDB," Del Balzo said. "But we'll still be looking for pilot feedback as the system is implemented. "This is a significant milestone for the FAA and for aviation," Del Balzo added. "For the first time in history, we're going to have one basic system that can handle all phases of flight. Feasibility of GPS for precision approaches is now being investigated." ................................................................ In the same issue, it was announced that Magellan has just received TSO-C129 approval for the Skynav 5000. So GPS approaches are a reality today! IFR approvals for other GPS units should be forthcoming soon.