The Global Positioning System, otherwise known as GPS, is a military and civilian system that is operated by the United States Space Force to provide geolocation and navigation services with the use of GPS satellites. In the realm of aviation, GPS system technology proves to be an invaluable asset for flight navigation, providing pilots with three or four-dimensional location data to track an aircraft’s position, speed, time, and more. In this blog, we will discuss how the global positioning system works utilizing its various components, as well as how they benefit aviation.
The Global Positioning System, originally called NAVSTAR GPS, debuted in the United states in 1973 by the United States Department of Defense. The system comprises 24 satellites and was designed with the intent of military use for surpassing the limitations of navigation predecessors. Following a 1980’s executive order by United States President Ronald Reagan, civilian use of GPS services was permitted, but featured “selective availability”, which limited the accuracy of positioning. Later, in 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a law to remove this feature to provide civilians the same accuracy and abilities of GPS that the military had.
The power of GPS system technology lies within the GPS satellites that orbit over earth. Operated by the United States Air Force, a minimum of 24 satellites are operational with a specific orbit so as to have 4 satellites viewable from any location on earth at any time. These satellites are solar powered and perpetually emit a radio broadcast of a pseudorandom code and a time of transmission to GPS receivers back on earth. The receiver then measures the time of arrival of four satellite signals and determines the “time of flight” to calculate a three dimensional position. Because receivers are dependent on receiving satellite signals, a GPS navigation system cannot work when satellite view is blocked due to mountains, buildings, and other obstructions.
The final part of the global positioning system lies in the receivers that are operated by a plethora of users. GPS system can benefit astronomy, automated vehicles, cartography, disaster relief, geotagging, navigation, robotics, sports, and much more. Receivers feature a clock, processors, and antennas to receive the signals of satellites. While early or lower end models of receivers can only access the transmission of 4 to 5 satellites, newer models can reach upwards of 12 or 20.
GPS components also include the control segment based on earth. The control segment consists of six dedicated monitor stations, four dedicated ground antennas, a master control station, and an alternative master control station.These stations monitor and contact satellites to provide navigational updates to synchronize clocks and adjust their trajectory. When the orbiting of a satellite begins to error, engineers will mark the satellite as “unhealthy”, meaning that receivers will ignore its transmission, and then provide a new orbit trajectory to make it healthy again.
In the modern day, it has become somewhat of a standard to outfit new aircraft with a Global Positioning System. From small personal aircraft to commercial airliners, the GPS system provides the capability of navigation, position data, airspeed, and much more. When a pilot is flying under instrument flight rules, a pilot can use an approved GPS system for navigation. As they become more widely adopted by the aviation industry, organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have begun introducing new procedures and guidelines to benefit pilots and airports with the use of GPS.
With GPS technology even becoming a standard to everyday activities, such as mobile phone processes and searching for directions, they have become an indispensable asset to society. When it comes time to procure GPS components, look no further than Aviation Parts Online. Whether you need a Spacer Global Positioning System or CCA Global Positioning System, we can provide you with rapid-lead times. Aviation Parts Online is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find GPS components you need, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@aviationpartsonline.com or call us at +1 (714) 705-4780.
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