FAA Mandates Airplane GPS Tracking by 2020

1 May 2014

By 2020, airlines will be using satellite-based GPS tracking technology — the same technology behind LiveViewGPS tracking devices — to avoid missing planes and worried flyers.

Following the missing Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 flight incident, the Federal Aviation Administration is feeling the pressure to push for a faster reveal of its new GPS tracking systems. These systems will allow the agency to track and monitor planes with satellite-based tracking, as opposed to the ground-based tracking and radars that are currently used for all major airlines.

The Federal Aviation Administration has the goal of using GPS tracking for all airplanes by 2020. The new system will be called Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B).

Airline controllers will be able to monitor and track all planes mid-flight with the satellite tracking technology provided by global positioning systems (GPS). They are not only more advanced than the conventional ground radars used now, but situations like the missing Malaysian Airlines flight shouldn’t happen, because the plane can be tracked just about anywhere. With unlimited coverage all over the world, it would be more difficult not to be able to track down a plane.

As Greg Feith, an aviation expert, told reporters: “Right now, a lot of aircraft are being with it. It’s just that we didn’t have the infrastructure built. Now the infrastructure is built to use ADS-B here in the United States, the rest of the world will follow suit so that we will have almost worldwide coverage for any aircraft.”

There are actually about 100 air traffic facilities already using the ADS-B, which is why they are able to give such a firm estimation of 2020. This is nearly half of the 230 air traffic facilities in the world. Aviation experts believe 2020 is a good estimate for when every one of these facilities will be using the technology, with more and more adding the technology over the next 16 years. The hardest part is simply equipping the planes with the new system.

Tracking planes during their flight isn’t the only thing the ADS-B GPS tracking system can do. It also has the ability to provide weather and other pertinent information to pilots in real-time, so they have as advanced warning as possible about the current environmental conditions that might impact their flying decisions.

One of the big issues in the past with the other 130 air traffic facilities is that it is easy to lose radar in certain areas of the world. As is most likely the case with the recent missing Malaysian Airlines place, it was likely over water or in another location not easily tracked by the ground based radar. This makes it difficult to track and almost impossible to find out what happened to it.

Feith also mentioned that some flights require the new GPS tracking technology because of flying over the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, and being more at risk for becoming lost during their flight.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.