In a message dated 1/5/00 1:59:53 PM, James.Nazarian@Colorado.EDU writes:
<< I don't see how our government (USA) would ever allow this to happen. The
reason that current GPS have the 30 meter error is to prevent strategic
sites from being located too accurately. If the is a random 30 meter
radius error then hitting a strategic target becomes nearly impossible.
This error is built in by the government for this reason. The government
GPS gear is much more accurate. If you are talking about GPS accurate to
within 1 or 2 meters this could be seen as a threat to the targets that
the current system is designed to prote >>
Sorry to dispute you, but GPS is right now being used for approaches to
runways in instrument conditions. With WAAS every airplane in the US, Europe
and Australia will be able to shoot a Category I approach--vertical and
lateral guidance, to every little grass runway and podunk airport on the
chart, vastly improving aviation safety. Add Local Area Augmentation System
(LAAS), and you get up to Category III precision, which means essentially
hands-off landings with a decision height of 50 ft. altitude. This is very
much high precision. Check out FAA's website for confirmation in high
detail. I follow these things very closely. Not paranoid, it's my job.
Oh, yeah, DOD griped about it but with the demise of the evil empire didn't
have a leg to stand on.
Jay Donoghue
72 MGB
66 Mustang
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