ATC
GAO report: GPS services could deteriorate after 2010
GPS service is in danger of severe erosion, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

GPS service is in danger of severe erosion, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). A Congressional “watchdog” of programs and spending of government departments, the GAO warns that the satellite navigation service could slowly worsen after 2010, and not recover to acceptable aviation levels before 2022.

Normally, the GPS constellation has 24 satellites to provide worldwide, 24/365 navigation. Today, 31 satellites are in orbit, and the system has never been better. However, many satellites are “legacy” units in which the original triple- or quadruple- redundant elements of one or more critical systems are now down to or approaching “single thread” operation, with total failure of individual satellites expected to occur at any time over the next few years.