Fed: Planes flying in "commercial" airspace must get GPS
VOR-DME writes:
I’m sure the FAA is relieved to know that you’re on the case ...
The FAA has its head firmly buried in the sand.
As far as the VOR’s are concerned, you’re barking up the wrong tree. ADS-B OUT
is the first mandated item, but far from the last. ADS-B IN will follow
shortly, CPLDC datalink and UAT transceivers as well. At this point we are one
ARINC fiber cable away from full ground-based control of every airplane in the
system (not that this is a stated goal, but to demonstrate that we are soon
achieving far better system integration than your 1980’s instrument textbook
lets on). So the VOR’s are really superfluous with a few exceptions, which
will be retained along with the odd NDB.
What takes over when GPS fails? Loran is gone. NDBs and VORs supposedly will
be gone. What's left? A magnetic compass?
It will be important to maintain a minimum structure of surveillance radar
as a backup ...
Radar should be permanently retained. It helps prevent spoofing, for example.
Where the battle lines will be drawn is over the issue of cost per
participating aircraft and equipment mandates that the AOPA is likely to see
as overkill and overpriced for GA.
The FAA seems to be much more a friend of airlines than a friend of GA.
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