GPS/WAAS Scorecard

Did you know that GPS performance worldwide is continuously evaluated in great detail, to make sure the system remains safe and reliable for use by everyone? In 1999, the FAA began publishing quarterly Performance Analysis Reports on the basic Standard Positioning Service (SPS) that is provided by GPS. Lets take a look at some performance information critical to pilots. The latest report covers April 1 to June 30, 2013, and well look at some of…

Editorial Staff

Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA continuously evaluates GPS performance, with the April-June 2013 report showing high availability (100% for U.S. SPS) and accuracy that consistently exceeded minimum requirements.
GPS accuracy can be degraded by factors like satellite geometry (PDOP), natural phenomena (solar activity, magnetic storms), and man-made interference, though the system generally maintains robust performance.
WAAS significantly enhances GPS accuracy, maintains exceptional integrity (with no reported Hazardously Misleading Information events since 2000), and ensures high availability for precision approaches despite occasional localized anomalies.

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Did you know that GPS performance worldwide is continuously evaluated in great detail, to make sure the system remains safe and reliable for use by everyone? In 1999, the FAA began publishing quarterly Performance Analysis Reports on the basic Standard Positioning Service (SPS) that is provided by GPS. Let’s take a look at some performance information critical to pilots. The latest report covers April 1 to June 30, 2013, and we’ll look at some of that information.