🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <2u8fe5$tc@agate.berkeley.edu> katie@physics2 (Katie Schwarz) writes:
>I'm not a pilot (maybe someday), but I've taken rides with friends
>and learned about how they navigate with VORs. I'm also interested
>in careers related to GPS (I'm bailing out of physics, like
>everyone else). My question is: what is the opinion of this
>group on whether aircraft will ever come to use only GPS, making VORs
>obsolete? Of course this isn't going to happen in the next few years;
>I was wondering about the long run. GPS would make it possible to
>fly directly rather than zigzagging through waypoints, saving time
>and fuel. What about the cost of GPS receivers; would general
>aviation pilots rather keep the VORs so they don't have to buy such
>an expensive instrument? What about reliability?

Katie,
I am a pilot & flying instructor (aka CFII). Yes GPS-use will/has replaced
VOR-use. But VORs are still there and are reliable (it is easier to
maintain ground-based than space-based equipment ;). Note that pragmatic
use of a device does not necessarily mean that the regulatory bodies
decide that they can do without requiring us to carry VOR, DME
and ADF recievers :-(
Yes, GPS will let you route direct, but you can fly VFR direct anyway and
can (try to) file IFR direct. However the local national FAA equivalent
have problems with this (ie: how do you guarantee separation when people
are flying all over the place in a crowded airspace like central Europe?)
GPS recievers are already cheaper than VOR recievers. However you still
will need a G/S = glideslope for the final approach sometimes.
G/S presently come packaged with VOR-recievers but not with GPS :-(
For an approach to minima below class 1 , you will need a
differential GPS. At present only 3 of the small fields in Germany
have a differential GPS transciever.

Regards,   and do go learn to fly,   Stu Savory.



---------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Stuart Savory    savory.pad@sni.de / savory.pad@sni-usa.com
"If we knew what it was we were doing,
 it would not be called research, would it?".        A.Einstein

In article <2u8fe5$tc@agate.berkeley.edu> katie@physics2 (Katie Schwarz) writes:
>.... What about the cost of GPS receivers; would general
>aviation pilots rather keep the VORs so they don't have to buy such
>an expensive instrument?

Pilots, especially airplane owners, *love* to buy expensive instruments.
Most of us try to not have any money around, so we're not tempted too
often.
:),

  -les  niles@parc.xerox.com
        Mooney N9752M