| Navigating By Satellite |
One of the greatest gifts that technology has given to travelers is the Global Positioning System (GPS). Twenty-four fixed satellites in the U.S. sky constantly beam radio signals toward Earth. Any GPS decoder can read those signals and tell you exactly where you are—even if you're moving in a car or an airplane!
GPS systems have been an option in cars for a few years now. You might have seen their screens, often in color, that show the car's location, nearby highways and roads, and even services such as motels and restaurants. Some even have voice software that will give you directions to where you want to go: "Turn left. No, your other left! Hey, watch out for that car. Uh-oh, it's a police car! Goodbye." Today's aircraft can be fitted with GPS systems, too. In fact, portable units are available for planes at a relatively low cost ($500 to $2,000) that give you an amazing amount of information in your aircraft. Because they are portable you can use them in any type of plane, including the new light-sport aircraft, ultralights, certified craft, or whatever you're flying. What do GPS decoders show you? First, know that they include updatable software with information on airports and services. The decoder simply reads the signal from at least 5 of the 24 satellites. The good thing is that most units have a method of updating the data periodically to reflect changes in information. To answer the question, here's what you'll see on your GPS navigation system (depending on models):
You also can buy installed GPS systems, but they're more expensive. Some new systems now combine the traditional flight instruments onto a precision display panel for ultimate flying.
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