Talk:Joint precision approach and landing system: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:13, 14 June 2006

Revision as of 00:36, 30 June 2006

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Is it really true that JPALS is a "spinoff" from LAAS? I thought it was developed independantly? [[User:Maury Markowitz|Maury]] 15:13, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

No - LAAS work began before JPALS was little more than a concept. JPALS incorporates most of the LAAS technology, with some key additions that provide authentication, encryption, and anti-jam measures. These measures prevent unauthorized use, deter hijacking of the signal, and guard against signal degredation by enemy means. Both systems were developed simultaneously, with significant overlap. There's not a lot of unclassified information available right now, but it appears that JPALS units installed aboard military aircraft will be able to use LAAS signals, as well as the more robust JPALS signals. Any other possibility, to put it bluntly, doesn't pass the sanity test, particularly given the FAA's emphasis towards phasing out non-WAAS/LAAS systems for all but the most heavily trafficked airfields. In fact, there's been considerable talk about authorizing handheld units for instrument approaches, provided they meet certain RAIM requirements, as well as the current requirements governing IAP database currency, airfield and approach selection procedures, etc. This would bust cheap instrument approach procedures wide open, with a sub-$500 handheld being able to provide equivalent accuracy in a WAAS environment, and better than CAT-IIIc accuracy in an LAAS environment. Expect to see new FAA regs governing the programmed display options, to ensure adherency to generally accepted standards.