FAA - GPS Signal May Be Unusable in SE USA

adk

adk

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I didn't see this posted anywhere else and it could be a pretty big inconvenience for some.

Don't panic, but anyone planning on using GPS in the southeastern US for the next month or so will likely want to make sure they have a fallback option. That's according to a flight advisory just issued by the FAA, which warns pilots that their GPS signal "may be unreliable or unavailable" due to "GPS tests" that the Department of Defense will be conducting between January 20th and February 22nd. Details are fairly light beyond that, but the FAA does note that when the "tests" occur they will be active for 45 minutes, and be followed by 15 minutes of off time -- additional notices to pilots will apparently be issued at least 24 hours prior to any test. Of course, while this particular advisory is directed at pilots, it will presumably will also affect all other GPS devices, as the FAA doesn't mention any GPS issues specific to aviation. The real question, however, is just what those mysterious "GPS tests" are -- if they're, in fact, GPS tests at all...
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http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/20/faa-warns-of-ongoing-gps-issues-in-southeastern-us-due-to-defens/

https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2011/Jan/GPS_Flight_Advisory_CSFTL11-01_Rel.pdf
 
It is amazing how dependent on GPS we have become as a society. But specifically, a new Garmin G1000 panel (or any other similar system) is so GPS driven in its features that losing GPS is a real hit.

Back to VOR's and airways? Its the suck.

I will miss the synthetic vision!
 
Some aircraft (G1000 DA-40 comes to mind), require one operational GPS for just night VFR; requires two for IFR. So I guess you can't fly these aircraft during the time periods under those conditions.
 
Blackhawk said:
Some aircraft (G1000 DA-40 comes to mind), require one operational GPS for just night VFR; requires two for IFR. So I guess you can't fly these aircraft during the time periods under those conditions.
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you can as long as you stay beneath those shelves which, in Florida, is really not a big deal... 4000 feet is plenty of clearance down here so you're still legal, just limited
 
Blackhawk said:
Some aircraft (G1000 DA-40 comes to mind), require one operational GPS for just night VFR; requires two for IFR. So I guess you can't fly these aircraft during the time periods under those conditions.
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Wow/ really? Why?
 
Itchy said:
It is amazing how dependent on GPS we have become as a society. But specifically, a new Garmin G1000 panel (or any other similar system) is so GPS driven in its features that losing GPS is a real hit.

Back to VOR's and airways? Its the suck.

I will miss the synthetic vision!
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The problem with VORs is that they are not anywhere near as accurate (important for IFR, not as important for VFR) as GPS. For example, I was doing a mock IR checkride with my CFII the other day, and he had us start off by flying a practice SID (VFR alt.). I programmed the SID into the 430 and also dialed in the freq. for the destination VOR (in this case ABQ) in the Nav 2 (Nav 1 tied to the 430). Needless to say, the CDI 2 showed us arriving at the intersection when we were still 2 miles away from it according to the 430. When I'm VFR, it's either GPS or Pilotage, I very rarely tune a VOR unless it's at night or I'm lost (or want the practice). GPS or following roads is way more accurate.
 
A150K said:
The problem with VORs is that they are not anywhere near as accurate (important for IFR, not as important for VFR) as GPS. For example, I was doing a mock IR checkride with my CFII the other day, and he had us start off by flying a practice SID (VFR alt.). I programmed the SID into the 430 and also dialed in the freq. for the destination VOR (in this case ABQ) in the Nav 2 (Nav 1 tied to the 430). Needless to say, the CDI 2 showed us arriving at the intersection when we were still 2 miles away from it according to the 430. When I'm VFR, it's either GPS or Pilotage, I very rarely tune a VOR unless it's at night or I'm lost (or want the practice). GPS or following roads is way more accurate.
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Nope, not needed. Many airliners are flying around without (or at least were not too long ago). As long as you are in the confines of the airway, does it really matter? It is certainly a pita without the gps on a long day though.
 
Itchy said:
Nope, not needed. Many airliners are flying around without (or at least were not too long ago). As long as you are in the confines of the airway, does it really matter? It is certainly a pita without the gps on a long day though.
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A few are. I known the old NWA DC-9s didn't have it. Flying /A is pretty much just as easy as going /G (atleast on an airway) , same info being conveyed in differant ways. It's just matter of one being more accurate than the other.
 
Not really. With the gps you set up your route and kickback and let the plane take you where you gotta go. Flying across the country /A is a lot of work in comparison. Of course, direct is even better.
I know, I have to do it all the time. I get grumpy if the GPS is MEL'd! :)
 
Itchy said:
Not really. With the gps you set up your route and kickback and let the plane take you where you gotta go. Flying across the country /A is a lot of work in comparison. Of course, direct is even better.
I know, I have to do it all the time. I get grumpy if the GPS is MEL'd! :)
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GPS + Autopilot makes long flying super easy.

but at the same time, I like to fly low and slow, afterall it's the best way I know to enjoy the flying...

but if you're going far, GPS + AP is definitely nice but not a necessity
 
I really don't know what the big deal is. Its for less than 3 hours a day, in the evenings. It would be worse if it was a 24 hour a day event, but at only 3 hours a day, its not terrible.
 
/A works good, lasts long time. If you're not up in the moronosphere, you can usually just get a vector till receiving...relax. And too bad about all those plastic airplanes. Maybe for a month or so I won't be blinded by "anti-collision" strobes on the ramp at night.
 
I would love to know why those "plastic planes" cannot get along without it. What was the thinking there?
 
Boris Badenov said:
/A works good, lasts long time. If you're not up in the moronosphere, you can usually just get a vector till receiving...relax. And too bad about all those plastic airplanes. Maybe for a month or so I won't be blinded by "anti-collision" strobes on the ramp at night.
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To think that I had a Captain accept an aircraft the other day that didn't have a functioning autopilot or GPS. MEM-MCO-MEM. AH LAWDY!!!!
Had to get charts out and everything.
 
Please tell me you guys were alive during the SA/P-Code days of GPS where they would induce error for civilian usage!

Relax, it's gonna be alright girls.
 
Ahhhh, back to the old days of listening to the Nav audio... "LA BELLE V - O - R ......LA BELLE V - O - R"

Richman
 
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