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If you shut it all down and something catastrophic somehow goes wrong with GPS, it will be very difficult to get the thousands of planes in the air back onto ru

If you shut it all down and something catastrophic somehow goes wrong with GPS, it will be very difficult to get the thousands of planes in the air back onto runways.

cbanek 7y ago
Are they also getting rid of VOR for navigation? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF_omnidirectional_range https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF_omnidirectional_range (Sorry, paywall is blocking me)
- boarnoah 7y ago
  Not too familiar with aviation or IFR. Isn't VOR primarily a beacon that you use to orient yourself, doesn't seem like it helps the ATC maintain separation etc..
  - sokoloff 7y ago
    IFR separation does not have to depend on radar. Though radar procedures are the norm, there are non-radar procedures wherein ATC can issue instructions (clearances) that provide separation for airplanes who are all navigating themselves with respect to ground-based or satellite fixes. In that regard, VORs help ATC maintain separation.
  - redis_mlc 7y ago
    VOR is used for many things, including navigation, holding and locator beacons. I suspect VORs will be kept for airport locations and en route instructions, but most others will be shut down in favor of GPS.
- tjohns 7y ago
  VOR navigation is very much still a thing. They've been reducing the number of redundant ground stations lately as part of a project called "Minimum Operational Network", or "MON". (Mostly on affecting the east coast.) But they're explicitly making sure there's enough coverage that you can get a VOR signal anywhere above 5,000 feet AGL. More info: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/transition_programs/vormon/ https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/at...