[JYO] WAAS GPS signal to be turned off and restarted today (3/22/02)

WAAS GPS signal to be turned off and restarted Friday
Part of continuing progress towards certifying super-accurate IFR system

The WAAS (wide area augmentation system) enhancement to the GPS system will 
be shut down for two hours and then restarted today, sometime between 1600 
and 2200Z. WAAS improves the accuracy and integrity of the GPS signal and 
will provide ILS-like instrument approaches into almost every airport. 
Friday's shut-down is part of the continuing progress towards certifying WAAS 
for actual IFR operations. Some newer handheld VFR GPS receivers are already 
using the WAAS signal to improve accuracy, but the temporary loss of the WAAS 
signal will not significantly affect those users.

This test brings WAAS closer to its scheduled December 2003 implementation 
date. WAAS enables pilots with certified receivers to access airports and 
runways using new instrument approaches that have vertical guidance. This 
first stage of WAAS enables pilots to fly approaches to minima approaching 
that of ILS when appropriate airport infrastructure is present (e.g., 
approach light systems and runway pavement markings). "While this isn't the 
ILS replacement as originally hoped for, this is an excellent first step. It 
will enable general aviation pilots to access approaches that provide 
improved quality and vertical guidance at many general aviation airports that 
don't have ILS systems today," explained Randy Kenagy, director of advanced 
technology for AOPA.

Because avionics are expected to emerge before WAAS is certified, pilots 
should be able to immediately utilize the benefits of WAAS. AOPA is pushing 
the FAA to establish approaches at airports most used by AOPA members before 
WAAS is implemented to make it useful right away. AOPA is also seeking 
operational approvals including the ability to operate using WAAS under IFR 
without any other navigation equipment required on board the aircraft.

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