GPS 10 Years Later

Richard L. Collins

Saturday, February 01, 2003 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

GPS has revolutionized aviation navigation, offering enhanced situational awareness, streamlined flight planning, and efficient approaches, though some pilots underutilize its full capabilities.
Despite widespread adoption, the FAA has largely failed to meet initial promises for GPS development, and the system faces challenges related to satellite reliability, maintenance commitment, and vulnerability to jamming.
Consequently, traditional ground-based navigation systems such as ILS, VOR, and radar remain critical, indispensable backups to GPS for aviation safety and reliability.

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It is a cliché, but time does fly when you are having fun. Interesting is fun, and almost nine really interesting years have passed since I got one of the first (if not the first other than a manufacturer) approvals for GPS approaches. The FAA approval is dated 7/25/94. That first unit, a Garmin GPS 155, offered some installation and operational challenges, but after I mastered them it became my primary bit of navigational gear, both for en route and for approaches.

Since getting that unit approved I’ve changed, evaluated and upgraded units and now have a Garmin GNS 530 and a Bendix/King KLN 94. Several other navigators have been in the panel along the way, but there has always been an approach-approved GPS in my airplane.