THE US MILITARY is considering requiring the use of hand-held global-positioning-system (GPS) sets in both fixed-and rotary-wing military passenger-aircraft, following the US Air Force Boeing CT-43 crash near Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 3 April.
The hand-held GPS equipment would fill the gap until an integrated GPS is fitted to all transport aircraft, as directed by US defence chief William Perry after the Croatia accident.
The receivers will not serve as navigation aids on precision approaches, according to the USAF. They are to be used as "...a situational awareness system that a pilot can use to maintain his orientation around significant terrain", says the air force.
Source: Flight International
