On 5/30/2010 2:29 AM, Mxsmanic wrote:
writes:

And if you are really serious about the subject, the run of the mill flare
will cause a temporary signal loss, which aviation GPS will detect, and
there is no particular reason to suspect that the current sunspot cycle
will prove to be anything other than run of the mill.

If your GPS becomes unreliable, and you have no other means of navigation,
what do you do? Just knowing that GPS has failed doesn't help you much if you
have no back-up.

There is ALWAYS a backup. Look out the window. You're following your
progress on a sectional and always know exactly where you are and where
the nearest suitable airport is. In IMC ATC with radar can guide you to
VFR conditions and/or a suitable airport. Or take a magnetic compass
bearing from your present position (which you know because you've been
following your progress on the chart) and with your airspeed and a timer
you can go to where it's safe.

As an aside, I remember from my training a LONG time ago that ATC can
use direction finding on your radio signal to give you your general
location. A "DF steer", I think it was called. Is that still available?

Jim