FAA Files Reveal a Surprising Threat to Airline Safety: US Military's GPS Tests

Re:FAA Files Reveal a Surprising Threat to Airline Safety: U... by berkut on Saturday January 23, 2021 @07:58PM (#25887709)

I've always wondered what GPS degradation (i.e. during tests) would do for things like Required Navigation Performance operations...

Having flown into Queenstown in NZ several times when it's very cloudy, it's quite impressive how they're able to maintain operations apparently without seeing much, when there are mountains very close and depending on the approach, the aircraft is basically flying down a valley. I don't even think that airport has an ILS system for final approach...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhkbia1dMcI

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Re:FAA Files Reveal a Surprising Threat to Airline Safety: U... by throw0101a on Saturday January 23, 2021 @09:12PM (#25888332)

> I don't even think that airport has an ILS system for final approach...

NZQN approach plate using VOR/DME:

* http://www.aip.net.nz/pdf/NZQN_43.1_43.2.pdf

* http://www.aip.net.nz/NavWalk.aspx?section=CHARTS&tree=Queen...

It's a 4.9M PDF that loads at about 13 kB/s over ~4 minutes.

Because the valley is curved, ILS cannot be used as a straight-in glide slope is not possible, so you have to 'swing around'.

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