Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/17/1993 05:00 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 17, 1993
5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Gary Davis, Vice-Chair
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Curt Menard
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Eldon Mulder
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jerry Mackie
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Briefing on the Differential Global Positioning System
(DGPS) and the Global Positioning System (GPS).
WITNESS REGISTER
PAUL BOWERS, Manager
Juneau Airport
1873 Shell Simmons Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Phone: 789-7821
Position Statement: Presented briefing
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-5, SIDE A
Number 015
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON was given the opportunity to be the
"guest conductor" for the House Transportation Committee
meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.
CHAIR HUDSON introduced PAUL BOWERS, MANAGER OF THE JUNEAU
AIRPORT.
MR. BOWERS began his briefing by saying that each person in
the meeting has had the opportunity to learn the weather
dependency of the Juneau Airport. He stated that this is a
problem throughout Alaska and is a particular problem in
Juneau. He explained that the airport was looking at
resolving this problem by putting in a system called the
Differential Global Position System (DGPS). He said it is a
system based on the defense department's satellite
positioning system.
MR. BOWERS explained that he would be showing a video tape
of the system to the committee. He said that the DGPS he
was talking specifically about was called Project Juneau,
which would be an operational demonstration of aircraft in
the approach and departure procedure.
MR. BOWERS noted that existing conditions require a 1,000
foot ceiling (a two mile horizontal ceiling) for air carrier
landing. He said the goal of this program is to reduce the
1,000 foot ceiling down to a 400 foot ceiling (a one-half
mile visibility). Mr. Bowers noted that a standard category
one approach is 250 feet with one quarter mile. Mr. Bowers
said they were not looking to achieve a category one
approach; however, this DGPS system would enable nearly all
airports to become category one capable. He also stated
that they would be looking at potentially a 95 percent
reduction in missed approaches.
Number 264
MR. BOWERS presented the video. The tape explained that
DGPS is a worldwide radio navigation system that is based on
satellites approximately 11,000 miles above the earth
positioned so that there are at least four satellites
available to a user. The tape stated this would be as
significant an addition to aviation as jet aircraft in the
late 50's and it will be remembered as a milestone in the
evolution of aviation.
Number 365
MR. BOWERS explained that there are currently 22 satellites
today in orbit. He commented that the age of satellite
communication is now. There is a program currently in
Orlando, Florida, where over 400 rental cars have the Global
Positioning System (GPS). They can program in their
coordinates and it will tell them when to go left, right,
straight, etc., until they get to their destination.
Number 381
REPRESENTATIVE MENARD asked what the cost would be.
Number 385
MR. BOWERS explained that it was going to cost nothing and
this was being picked up by the FAA as a demonstration
project. The argument had been made that if it could work
in Juneau, Alaska, it could work anywhere. Mr. Bower's
response to the question as to how much it would cost to
install in jets, he stated it would currently cost $35,000
to $40,000 per aircraft. This cost is dropping
dramatically, he said.
Number 394
MR. BOWERS explained that the GPS system could be hand
carried anywhere in the world and positioned within one
hundred meters (about one hundred yards). He stated that
although that was good enough to travel and use from a boat
travelling to Hawaii, it would not be enough to bring in a
couple hundred pounds of sheet metal onto a runway. He
explained that the GPS takes four satellite systems;
however, the DGPS takes a fifth measurement, which takes a
ground station. A Differential Global Positioning System is
located at a very carefully engineered, surveyed site. This
allows a much more precise figure, and cannot get down to a
more precise figure that is three meters horizontally and
one meter vertically. Mr. Bowers said this is equivalent to
ten feet horizontally and thirty-nine inches vertically. He
stated this is what will change Juneau from having so many
weather interruptions to literally having 95 percent of the
weather induced operations uninterrupted.
TAPE 93-5, SIDE B
Number 023
MR. BOWERS explained the Juneau approach to the committee.
He thanked the committee for allowing him to make his
presentation.
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
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