Wide Area Augmentation System

The DOT/FAA is nearing completion of its implementation of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which will provide precision (meter-level) knowledge of aircraft position to pilots in U.S. airspace starting in the 2001 timeframe.

WAAS brings space-based high-accuracy positioning techniques into the mainstream of aircraft navigation for the United States, and is expected to save $billions in fuel and airport costs, while greatly enhancing aviation safety. WAAS includes a ground network of GPS receivers, uplink sites to geostationary satellites, geostationary satellites to broadcast WAAS messages to airplanes, and high speed links between the ground sites and several operations centers. The operations centers are running real-time software to compute the WAAS messages.

These messages, broadcast to the aircraft users through the geostationary satellites, enable the high precision positioning as well as autonomous integrity checking for safety. JPL developed, tested, and delivered to the FAA and its prime contractor, Raytheon, working prototype software running in real-time to calculate key WAAS message parameters which are needed for the system to work to its specifications. A similar system is being implemented in Japan as well. JPL is also working on real-time navigation and telecommunications systems for potential use at Mars which are based on scaled down versions of the GPS navigation systems developed for use at Earth.