Abstract: (Version 2: New supporting evidence is presented and footnoted.) The alleged flight performances of inexperienced terrorist pilots accused of operating complex flight control systems of four aircraft during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, has surprised observers. Moreover, official information presented to demonstrate terrorist pilot control of the said aircraft has been either unverifiable or demonstrated to contain noteworthy anomalies. The flight paths of the September 11, 2001, attack aircraft bear characteristics common to the capabilities provided by precision automated flight control systems and related commercial aviation technology that emerged just prior to these attacks. The unreported use of augmented GPS-guided auto-pilot aircraft systems in order to perform the said aircraft attacks is hypothesized.
Keywords: Global Positioning System, Wide Area Augmentation System, Selective Availability, Required Navigation Performance, Flight Management System, Multi-Mode Receiver, Dynamic Airborne Reroute Procedure, Radius-to-Fix Turn, Geometric Dilution of Precision.
Introduction
U.S. federal government and civil aviation industry publications describe the development and implementation pre-September 11, 2001, of state-of- the-art systems capable of facilitating precise automated navigation of the Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft used that day to a given destination. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based radio-navigation system that generates accurate positioning, navigation and timing information for civil use at no cost. The information signal can be obtained through the use of GPS signal receiving equipment.1
Augmented GPS signal service intended to replace dated and expensive ground-based aviation navigation signals, was developed during the mid-to- late 1990s by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Raytheon. Serving on Raytheon’s Special Advisory Board was “Project for the New American Century” signatory Richard Armitage, although it is unknown precisely when he served in this capacity.2 Known as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), precisely surveyed ground-based Wide- area Reference Stations monitor and collect GPS satellite signal errors. Ground-based Wide-area Master Stations then transmit corrected GPS signal information to ground-based Ground Uplink Stations that then transmit the corrected GPS signal information to Geostationary Satellites. These satellites then broadcast the corrected positional information back to Earth for use within a GPS-like signal.3
On May 1, 2000, just 16 months prior September 11, 2001, President Clinton announced that intentionally embedded position and timing errors in GPS data (Selective Availability or SA) would end. SA was implemented to deter abuse of GPS in the national security interest.4 The FAA later announced on August 24, 2000, just 13 months prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, that the WAAS signal was available pending final approval by the FAA. Horizontal and vertical positional data accurate to between one to three meters and sufficient for Category I precision aircraft runway approaches, was now available throughout the contiguous United States.5 6 Normal GPS service only provides placement accuracy to within 100 meters.
Conventional en route aviation navigation beacon signals were only able to provide placement information accurate to within one mile.7 Raytheon’s director of satellite navigation systems reported that rescue personnel utilized the newly activated WAAS signal, in order to precisely survey the Ground Zero site following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.8
Performance Based Navigation
The activation of the WAAS signal contributed significantly to the accuracy of an aircraft navigation and landing procedure system developed during the 1990s known as “Required Navigation Performance” (RNP), which utilizes precisely constructed “highways in the sky” that can be navigated by the autopilot systems of aircraft like those involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. WAAS enabled RNP technology “pinpoints the location of a fast-moving jet to within yards”.9 Such routes “never vary more than 18 meters – half the wingspan of a Boeing 737”.10 Upon the introduction of the WAAS signal utilized by the RNP system it was predicted that “a pilot will be able to determine the airplane’s vertical and horizontal position within six or seven meters (about 20 to 23 feet)”.11 The WAAS signal provides horizontal and vertical positional accuracy of 1-3 meters, whereas the Instrument Landing System (ILS) antenna arrays that provide precise aircraft centerline placement over the 150-200 foot wide runways of major U.S. airports are accurate to only 7.6 meters in both planes at the middle marker.12
RNP “highway in the sky” routes provide for a containment accuracy of 95% within a virtual corridor. Such corridor dimensions are described in terms of nautical miles. In 2003, Raytheon reported that WAAS enabled corridors were as narrow as 243 feet (RNP 0.02).
“WAAS also supports required navigation performance (RNP) operations, says Raytheon, providing a precision navigation capability down to RNP 0.02 (an accuracy of 0.02nm).”13
1 nautical mile = 6,076 feet; RNP 0.02 = RNP (0.02 nautical mile radius) x 2 = RNP (121.5 foot radius) x 2 = a 243 foot wide corridor.
“Accuracy and integrity are expressed in terms of nautical miles and represent a containment radius of a circle centered around the computed FMC position where there is a defined containment probability level of the actual aircraft being inside the containment radius. For accuracy the containment probability level is 95%.”14
Aviation and popular publications describe a complex 2006 autopilot controlled RNP test flight performed by a Boeing 757 containing Flight Management Systems (FMS) and augmented GPS signal receivers scheduled to be contained by American and United airlines 757 and 767 aircraft during the late 1990s, utilizing waypoint coordinate information contained within the aircraft’s Flight Management Computer (FMC), that included a descent from a 38,000 foot altitude. “Guided entirely by autopilot, an Air China Boeing 757 jet last month snaked along a narrow river valley between towering Himalayan peaks … the airplane automatically followed the twists of the valley, descending on a precisely plotted highway in the sky toward a runway still out of sight … Using global-positioning satellites and on-board instruments, Naverus’ navigation technology pinpoints the location of a fast-moving jet to within yards … “You’re watching the whole thing unfold. The airplane is turning, going where it’s supposed to go … it’s all automatic.””15
“For this RNP approach in Tibet, an Air China Boeing 757 was relying on dual GPS receivers, flight path computers and inertial reference systems … the aircraft we are on is equipped with Honeywell Pegasus flight management systems and Rockwell Collins multi-mode receivers.”16
By 1999, Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft like those involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, contained digital flight control systems that can “automatically fly the airplanes on pre-selected routes, headings, speed or altitude maneuvers.”17
Waypoint Substitution
For U.S. aviation purposes utilizing GPS navigation, a waypoint is a three dimensional location within the National Air Space, comprised of longitude, latitude and altitude coordinates.18 RNP-like flight paths and runway approach procedures are comprised of a series of waypoints.19 The WTC towers themselves occupied waypoint coordinates.20 Aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) facilitated instrument approach procedures involve the interception of waypoint coordinates.21 By substitution of World Trade Center tower and Pentagon building waypoint coordinates for flight leg terminating waypoint coordinates, a RNP-like waypoint intercept procedure under autopilot control performed by three of the four aircraft destroyed on September 11, 2001, could apparently also accomplish the aircraft attacks observed.
Common Performance Characteristics
A feature utilized by RNP approach procedures and utilizing the WAAS signal activated one year before September 11, 2001, is the use of descending constant radius turns, known as Radius-to-Fix (RF) turns.22 Such turns are similar to the 330 degree descending right turn performed by American Airlines flight 77 (AA 77) upon its final approach-to- impact with the Pentagon building on September 11, 2001.23 The point at which AA 77’s 330 degree descending right turn terminated would be comparable to a Final Approach Fix (FAF), from where a straight final runway approach segment would commence.
The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University described experimental RF turns similar to the reported 330 degree descending turn performed by American Airlines Flight 77, following 1998 test flights involving a WAAS prototype:
“The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) … allows pilots to fly … approaches that cannot necessarily be flown with current instrumentation … Complex curved approaches, including approaches turning to a short (less than one mile) final … Pathways were constructed from … climbing, or descending constant radius arcs … Autopilots could use WAAS position and velocity to fly curved trajectories.”24
The attack aircraft flight paths observed on September 11, 2001 would apparently be reproducible by RNP-like segments used in combination, performed by specialized aircraft avionics systems available and certified prior to September 11, 2001 for use within the Boeing 757 and 767 attack aircraft used on September 11, 2001.
Necessary Avionics Systems
On September 6, 1996 Rockwell-Collins Commercial Avionics announced plans by Boeing and major commercial airlines, to install Rockwell-Collins Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR) landing systems within their Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft.25 The MMR system can utilize the WAAS signal as well as the basic GPS signal, the VHF, UHF, VOR navigation signals and eventually the LAAS navigation signal.26
On September 7, 1998 Honeywell International announced plans by American Airlines and United Airlines, to install the RNP-capable Pegasus Flight Management System (FMS) within their Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft, with a 150 waypoint route capacity.27 28
“Operators of 757s and 767s may also choose to upgrade to the recently certified Future Air Navigation System (FANS) FMC (Pegasus), which is Y2K-ready and available. Service bulletins for the 757 and 767 FANS retrofit will be issued upon operator request.”29
Achieved Systems Accuracy
During numerous FAA, U.S. Air Force and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sponsored runway approach and touchdown test flights between 1994 and 2002, involving augmented GPS positional signals and the auto-land systems of Boeing 757, 767 and other Boeing 700 series aircraft, horizontal and vertical positional accuracies of just several meters or less were routinely achieved. The four aircraft used to carry out the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were also Boeing 757-200 and 767-200 model aircraft. Runways of major U.S. airports like JFK International, Chicago-O’Hare International and Los Angeles International are between 150 and 200 feet wide.30 31 32 The WTC towers were each 208 feet wide.33
During October of 1994 at NASA’s Crows Landing Flight Facility in California, 110 autopilot approaches and touchdowns of a United Airlines Boeing 737 aircraft facilitated by augmented GPS positional signals, were successfully conducted, with “accuracies on the order of a few centimeters” being consistently achieved.34
During October of 1994, augmented GPS signal flight tests sponsored by the FAA in cooperation with Ohio University were conducted. 50 autopilot approaches and touchdowns were successfully performed by a donated United Parcel Service Boeing 757-200 series aircraft. The augmented GPS positional signal was integrated into the aircraft Flight Management System (FMS).35
During July and August of 1995, Honeywell, Boeing and NASA sponsored tests using NASA’s Boeing 757-200 test aircraft and performed 75 autopilot approaches and touchdowns. The predicted augmented GPS system aircraft positional accuracy of 1-2 meters was successfully achieved.36 37
During October and December of 1998, WAAS signal enroute navigation and Category I precision instrument aircraft runway approaches were performed over the northern Atlantic ocean and in the nation of Chile, using the FAA’s 727 test aircraft. Overall aircraft positional accuracies of 3-4 meters were successfully achieved.38 39
During August of 1999, multiple augmented GPS signal autopilot approach and touchdown tests were performed using a donated United Parcel Service 767 aircraft. These tests were sponsored by the FAA and were centered on the prototype GPS-based Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS), which is intended to compliment the FAA’s WAAS service. The LAAS signal can provide aircraft positional accuracy of less than one meter vertically and laterally.40
On August 25, 2001, a Fed-Ex 727-200 aircraft equipped with a Rockwell-Collins GNLU-930 Multi- Mode Receiver, conducted six full autopilot approaches and touchdowns during joint U.S. Air Force and Raytheon sponsored test flights, using the Joint Precision Approach and Landings System (JPALS), the military augmented GPS counterpart of the civil LAAS system.41
On January 17, 2002, a series of autopilot approaches, touchdowns and rollouts, were conducted to further test the LAAS system with a Fed-Ex Boeing 737-900, equipped with a Rockwell- Collins GLU-920 Multi-Mode receiver.42 The augmented GPS capable GLU-920 Multi-Mode receiver pre-dates September, 2001 and is designed for use within the Boeing 757-200 and 767-200 model aircraft, like those used during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.43 44 (JPALS), the military augmented GPS counterpart of the civil LAAS system.41
On January 17, 2002, a series of autopilot approaches, touchdowns and rollouts, were conducted to further test the LAAS system with a Fed-Ex Boeing 737-900, equipped with a Rockwell- Collins GLU-920 Multi-Mode receiver.42 The augmented GPS capable GLU-920 Multi-Mode receiver pre-dates September, 2001 and is designed for use within the Boeing 757-200 and 767-200 model aircraft, like those used during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.43 44
Comparable Method Patent
On October 9, 2001, Cubic Defense Systems, Inc. applied for a U.S. patent for a system that removes control of an aircraft from its pilot and utilizes an aircraft’s auto-pilot system to implement an uninterruptable programmed auto-pilot flight plan in order to navigate an aircraft to a given destination during an emergency. This would be accomplished through the use of electronic or mechanical relays, that become activated by pilot operation of an aircraft hijack notification system. Surprisingly to some, none of the four aircraft destroyed on September 11, 2001 are known to have entered unique transponder hijack notification codes, suggesting either modified function or insufficient activation time. One optional feature of the Cubic system is termination of an aircraft’s ability to communicate. In two cases, hijacker communications reportedly aimed at passengers on-board American Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 93 on September 11, 2001 were heard instead by air traffic controllers. The Cubic patent also references Honeywell’s 1995 augmented GPS flight navigation research and development, apparently as a signal navigation aid. The system also envisions the use of new aircraft flight instructions transmitted by a remote sender, that would override aircraft functions already underway and direct an aircraft auto-pilot system to navigate an aircraft to a predetermined destination.45 A data link interface between an aircraft Flight Management System (FMS) and the Management Unit for the Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), was developed during the early 1990s. This communication system allows for the update an aircraft FMS in mid-flight.46 An aircraft auto-pilot system is part of the FMS.
Autopilot Override of Pilot Control
The development of the capability of an aircraft Flight Management Computer (FMC) to take control of an aircraft away from a pilot and turn over control to its autopilot system, including apparently Boeing 757’s, was underway circa September 11, 2001. The development of a collision avoidance, control override capability utilizing a Boeing 757 is documented as early as 1999. Boeing 757s and 767s containing common avionics, were used during the 9/11 attacks.
“Ultimately, if required, the system could initiate an automatically flown evasive maneuver. Validation flights were completed at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and in-flight demonstrations of the system were completed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in November 1999 for FAA officials and other Government and industry representatives. The NASA B-757 ARIES and a Honeywell Gulfstream IV (G-IV) were used in the flight test effort.”47
In 2003, “Aviation Week” and Honeywell described the continued development of “ground proximity warning systems” that can allow a GPS-guided aircraft autopilot system to take away control of an aircraft from a pilot during emergencies. Honeywell state-of-the-art Flight Management Systems (FMS) were used by the four aircraft reportedly hijacked on September 11, 2001.
“Assisted recovery builds on existing enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS), autopilot or fly-by-wire technologies to prevent an aircraft from crashing into terrain or buildings … If pilots don’t respond to warnings within a certain amount of time, assisted recovery directs autopilot or fly-by-wire control systems to steer aircraft away from a crash.”48
A 2005 report on ground proximity warning systems states that the Boeing 767’s that were crashed into the World Trade Center (WTC) relied on navigation databases that contained the exact locations of the WTC towers:
“The hijacked passenger jets that hit the World Trade Center buildings were equipped with EGPWS … The twin towers were in the database”49
Remote Flight Plan Transmission
The capability to remotely transmit altered aircraft flight plan data via remote data link transmissions directly into Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft Flight Management Computers (FMCs) for use by aircraft auto-pilot functions, was technologically available circa 2001.
Developed in 1999 and technologically supported by the FANS-capable (Future Air Navigation System) Honeywell Pegasus Flight Management System (FMS) for Boeing 757s and 767s by 2000, Dynamic Airborne Reroute Procedure (DARP) technology enables aircraft course changes via modified flight plan waypoints remotely transmitted and installed into aircraft FMCs by VHF or SATCOM (satellite communications) transmission uplinks.
“Dynamic Rerouting, meaning the ability of controllers … to change a filed routing once the flight is in progress … “The new flight plan with all new waypoints goes into the data link to the comm satellite and is then downlinked into the FMSes of the individual aircraft,” … “And ‘Wow,’ say all the old pilots, ‘Untouched by human hands!'” … Our [dispatch] computer uplinks a route into the FMS that is identified as ‘Route 2.’ [You’re already flying ‘Route 1.’]” 50
A January, 2002 description of the capabilities of the Pegasus Flight Management System (FMS) for Boeing 757s and 767s:
“AOC (airline operations center) data link is an optional feature of the Pegasus FMC. This feature provides data link communication of … route modifications … directly into the FMC (flight management computer).”51
A May, 2000, Boeing explanation of the capabilities of the Pegasus Flight Management System (FMS) for Boeing 757s and 767s:
“A route request may either be a route modified by the crew, or a route which has been sent to the airplane from the Airline Data System.”52
“The route can be sent by airline operations directly to the ATC Facility via AIDC, for example, for review and uplink to the aircraft.”53
“At the time of the airworthiness approval of the 757/767 (Pegasus ‘00) FANS 1 FMC, the operational requirements … for providing … Dynamic Airborne Route Planning (DARP) based on FANS 1 communication capability were not determined.”54
By June, 2001, DARP technology was available but not fully operational:
“Dynamic rerouting (DARP) is not fully operational – Technology is available.”55
The May, 2000, data-link descriptions for the Boeing Pegasus Flight Management System (FMS) for Boeing 757s and 767s continues:
“Three independent VHF systems (radios and antennas) are installed on the airplane to provide line of sight voice and data communication.”56
“Satellite communications (SATCOM) may be provided for remote communications where terrestrial contact is unavailable, or by airline policy regardless of the state of other communication capabilities.”57
“The FMC has the capability to store 2 routes, designated as route 1 and route 2. The route which defines the flight plan along which the airplane is to be flown is the active route.”58
A Federal Aviation Administration publication description of DARP capability to remotely modify active flight plans already being executed by certain aircraft Flight Management Systems:
“Planned Airborne Re-route Procedure – DARP (Data link Aircraft): AOC (airline operations center) will plan the re-route and uplink the route to the aircraft, commencing from the waypoint on the current route, ahead of the Aircraft and finishing at destination. Note: Some Flight Management Systems allow AOC uplinks to the Active Route. It is recommended that all AOC route uplinks are directed to the Inactive Route.”59
Superior GPS Service During Attacks
Following the deactivation of Selective Availability (SA), measured GPS positional quality is most affected by GPS satellite geometric strength, represented by a numerical measure known as Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP).
“Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) is a GPS term used in geomatics engineering to describe the geometric strength of satellite configuration on GPS accuracy … the greater the number of satellites, the better the value of GDOP.”60
Following the deactivation of Selective Availability (SA), measured GPS positional quality is most affected by GPS satellite geometric strength, represented by a numerical measure known as Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP).
“Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) is a GPS term used in geomatics engineering to describe the geometric strength of satellite configuration on GPS accuracy … the greater the number of satellites, the better the value of GDOP.”60
During the impact of United Airlines flight 175, the maximum number of eleven GPS/WAAS satellites for the entire daylight period were visible from the latitude/longitude coordinates of the WTC (40° 42′ 42″ N, 74° 0′ 45″ W) The impact of American Airlines flight 11 occurred while ten GPS/WAAS satellites were visible, just five minutes after the expiration of one of two short periods of maximum GPS/WAAS satellite visibility from the WTC coordinates. The period of eleven visible GPS/WAAS satellites from the coordinates of the WTC occupied only 12% of the hours between sunrise and sunset on September 11, 2001. It was during this brief period of virtually maximum GPS/WAAS satellite visibility from the WTC that the aircraft attacks at the WTC unfolded.[58] Similarly superior GPS service also existed from the coordinates of the of the Pentagon building in Arlington, VA during the impact of American Airlines flight 77. (see Fig. 14) This impact occurred less than ten minutes after the expiration of the longest period of the maximum 12 GPS/WAAS satellites visible from the Pentagon coordinates.
During this same period at the WTC, Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) was valued at approximately 2 to 2.3. The maximum GDOP value during the hours between sunrise and sunset on September 11, 2001 was approximately 1.5. GDOP values of note are as follows:
“1-2 Excellent: At this confidence level, positional measurements are considered accurate enough to meet all but the most sensitive applications; 2-5 Good: Represents a level that marks the minimum appropriate for making business decisions. Positional measurements could be used to make reliable in-route navigation suggestions to the user.”61
These findings were obtained utilizing the Trimble GPS planning software 62, which utilized the GPS almanac file generated by the GPS satellite constellation on September 11, 2001 and is currently hosted by the website of the U.S. Coast Guard.63
Unreliable Official Evidence
Because the Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) for American Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 175 were not recovered, details regarding the operation of each aircraft are not known. The FDRs for American Airlines flight 77 and United Airlines flight 93 were recovered and indicate pilot control of each aircraft. However, the FDR readout file for American Airlines flight 77 was completed four hours and fifteen minutes before the said FDR was recovered, suggesting false or altered FDR information.64 And the FDRs for American Airlines flight 77 and United Airlines flight 93 are virtually the only ones during the previous 20 years of major National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) U.S. aviation mishap investigations, for which unique inventory control serial numbers were not published.65 Such serial numbers are required to facilitate FDR data readouts.66 In fact the NTSB possesses no records pertaining to the positive identification of the FDRs for American Airlines flight 77 and United Airlines flight 93.67
Hijackers Incapable Avionics Operators
Apparently suspect information obtained from the afore mentioned FDRs for American Airlines flight 77 and United Airlines flight 93 indicates the performance of numerous and complex auto-pilot mode changes by the accused hijack pilots of each attack aircraft.68 However, unclassified records generated by the “9/11 Commission” contain interviews of United Airlines personnel who describe the inability of the said hijackers to perform the flight operations alleged:
“Entering changes to the auto pilot is something that terrorist pilots probably would not have been trained or able to do. Even the United senior pilot, who instructs on how to do that, said that he always has to pause before he makes such corrections to make sure to remembered how to enter the change.”69
Evidence of Precise Navigation
Contributing to the plausibility of precision automated control of the two aircraft striking the WTC, is that each aircraft struck precisely the bottom regions of the only sections within each WTC tower only recently upgraded with thermal protection materials. This could suggest a clandestine relationship between the visually spectacular aircraft attacks upon the WTC and activity pre-September 11, 2001 within each WTC aircraft impact region, intended to initiate structural failure not generated by the aircraft attacks themselves and contribute to an appearance of structural failures caused by each aircraft impact.70
Floors 92 and above were re-fireproofed between 1995-2000 within WTC 1. WTC 1 was struck at floor 94 by AA 11. Floors 77 and above were re- fireproofed between 1995-2000 within WTC 2. WTC 2 was struck at floor 78 by UA 175.71 72
References
- Global Positioning System. http://www.gps.gov/
- The Making of U.S. Foreign Policy — BIOGRAPHIES OF THE AUTHORS, AMBASSADOR RICHARD LEE ARMITAGE http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itps/0900/ijpe/pj52bios.htm
- Wide Area Augmentation System. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/gnss/waas/howitworks/
- STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT REGARDING THE UNITED STATES’ DECISION TO STOP DEGRADING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM ACCURACY http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/FGCS/info/sans_SA/docs/statement.html
- AMENDED VERSION: Wide Area Augmentation System Signal Now Available, August 24, 2000 http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=5249
- WAAS Fact Sheet http://www.freeflightsystems.com/waas_factsheet.htm
- DIRECT FLIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL GUIDE PLANES http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8569182.html
- WAAS: Back in Step, Avionics Magazine, February 1, 2002 http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/commercial/12571.html
- Kent company bringing a navigation revolution http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003316294_naverus22.html
- A fuel-saving flight plan http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fortune/0807/gallery.copeland_naverus.fortune/index.html
- DIRECT FLIGHT NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL GUIDE PLANES http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8569182.html
- Replacing the ILS: the Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) will provide ILS-like accuracy with GPS. Can it replace the familiar ground-based system on which we depend? http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-157589720.html
- UPS wins FAA certification for wide-area GPS receiver http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2003/01/07/159964/ups-wins-faa-certification-for-wide-area-gps-receiver.html
- RNP Capability of FANS 1 FMCS Equipped 757/767 http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/reference/documents/RNP757767.pdf
- Kent company bringing a navigation revolution http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003316294_naverus22.html
- Air China’s First RNP Approach Into Linzhi Airport, Tibet http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/aw092506p1.xml
- Rockwell Collins To Provide Autoland System for Boeing Next-Generation 737, Business Wire, October 5, 1999 http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55993162.html
- Waypoint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waypoint
- United States Standard For Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Approach Procedures With Special Aircraft And Aircrew Authorization Required (SAAAR) http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/ND/8260_52.pdf
- The International GPS Global Positioning System Waypoint Registry TM http://www.waypoint.org/
- FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FMS) INSTRUMENT PROCEDURES DEVELOPMENT http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs400/afs420/policies_guidance/orders/media/826040B.pdf
- FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FMS) INSTRUMENT PROCEDURES DEVELOPMENT http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/afs400/afs420/policies_guidance/orders/media/826040B.pdf
- Flight Path Study – American Airlines Flight 77 http://www.ntsb.gov/info/Flight_%20Path_%20Study_AA77.pdf
- Inflight Demonstrations of Curved Approaches. and Missed Approaches in Mountainous Terrain http://waas.stanford.edu/~wwu/jennings/publications/ION98/iongps98.pdf
- Rockwell’s Collins Landing System Picked for Both Airbus and Boeing Planes; Lead Announcement at Farnborough Air Show, PRNewswire, September 6, 1996 http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18652301.html
- GNSS – Frequently Asked Questions – WAAS http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/gnss/faq/waas/index.cfm
- Honeywell Announces Orders For New-Generation “Pegasus” Flight Management System, Aviation Week, September 7, 1998 http://www.aviationnow.com/shownews/farnday1/pressr15.htm
- Boeing 757/767 State of the Art Upgrade http://www.honeywell.com/sites/aero/Flight_Management_Systems3_C1997B88E-FCF9-72B5-3A26-801F48F156BD_H79C28D81-B679-A247-C0CE-32B08C84BC08.htm
- Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure (Boeing) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_03/sy/sy01/story.html
- JFK International Airport http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/JFK_airport_map.gif
- Chicago-O’Hare International Airport http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/ORD_airport_map.PNG
- Los Angeles International Airport http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/LaxAirportDiagram2.jpg
- The World Trade Center http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_Trade_Center_Building_Design_with_Floor_and_Elevator_Arrangment.svg
- GETTING TO THE POINT IN PINPOINT LANDING, NASA, 1998 http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff1998/t2.htm
- FAA/Ohio University Avionics Engineering Center Partnership, Federal Aviation Administration, December, 1998 http://www.tc.faa.gov/logistics/grants/success/OU.pdf
- Honeywell’s Differential GPS Satellite Landing System, reprinted from Avionics News Magazine, September, 1996 http://www.bluecoat.org/reports/Lewison_96_DGPS.pdf
- ARIES: NASA’s ‘Flying Lab’ Takes Wing http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/757.html
- FAA Performs Successful Satellite-Based Flight Tests Over the North Atlantic http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=4868
- FAA Completes Successful WAAS Flight Trials in the Republic of Chile http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=4898
- FAA, ATA, UPS Test New Satellite Technology, Federal Aviation Administration, August 13, 1999 http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=5052
- Civil-Military Interoperability For GPS Assisted Aircraft Landings Demonstrated http://www.spacedaily.com/news/gps-01k.html
- Raytheon conducts successful flight test of global positioning system (GPS) precision landing system http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/briefs/022102.html
- FedEx Express Selects Rockwell Collins Multi-Mode Receivers http://www.rockwellcollins.com/news/page2930.html
- GLU-920 MMR Global Landing System http://www.rockwellcollins.com/ecat/AT/GLU-920.html?smenu=204
- Anti-hijacking system operable in emergencies to deactivate on-board flight controls and remotely pilot aircraft utilizing autopilot, United States Patent, Filed: October 9, 2001 http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch- bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6641087
- Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACARS
- FANS: Where Is It for Business Aviation? http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=bca&id=…
- ARIES: NASA Langley’s Airborne Research Facility http://www.cs.odu.edu/~mln/ltrs-pdfs/NASA-aiaa-2002-5822.pdf
- Honeywell Aims To Test Crash- Evading System On Larger Planes http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aviationdaily&id=news/eva08133.xml
- Airbus Shows Interest in Honeywell’s Auto Pull-Up Software http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/09265p08.xml&headline=Airbus
- 767 Flight Deck and Avionics – January 2002, Page 123 http://www.smartcockpit.com/pdf/plane/boeing/B767/misc/0001/
- 757/767: Air Traffic Services Systems Requirements and Objectives – Generation 2, Page 41 (Boeing, May 12, 2000) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ats_dl/757-767_ATS_SRO.pdf
- 757/767: Air Traffic Services Systems Requirements and Objectives – Generation 2, Page 41 (Boeing, May 12, 2000) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ats_dl/757-767_ATS_SRO.pdf
- 757/767: Air Traffic Services Systems Requirements and Objectives – Generation 2, Page 3 (Boeing, May 12, 2000) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ats_dl/757-767_ATS_SRO.pdf
- FANS Implementation in South Pacific (June, 2001) www.cena.fr/pages/1actu/atmrd/6lun18_06.pdf
- 757/767: Air Traffic Services Systems Requirements and Objectives – Generation 2, Page 49 (Boeing, May 12, 2000) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ats_dl/757-767_ATS_SRO.pdf
- 757/767: Air Traffic Services Systems Requirements and Objectives – Generation 2, Page 50 (Boeing, May 12, 2000) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ats_dl/757-767_ATS_SRO.pdf
- 757/767: Air Traffic Services Systems Requirements and Objectives – Generation 2, Page 50 (Boeing, May 12, 2000) http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ats_dl/757-767_ATS_SRO.pdf
- THE TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING OF THE INFORMAL PACIFIC ATC COORDINATING GROUP (November 2007) http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/…/documents/IPACG/IPACG27/WP11_DAR…
- Dilution of Precision (GPS) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilution_of_precision_(GPS)
- Dilution of Precision (GPS) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilution_of_precision_(GPS)
- GPS ALMANACS/YUMA FOR YEAR 2001 http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?Do=gpsArchives&path=ALMANACS/YUMA&year=2001
- Trimble Planning Software Downloads http://www.trimble.com/planningsoftware_ts.asp?Nav=Collection-8425
- NTSB Affirms Dubious Explanation For Pentagon “Black Box” Data File Time Stamp Discrepancy http://www.911blogger.com/node/18294
- Was Essential 9/11 Aircraft ‘Blackbox’ Identification Information Withheld From NTSB? http://www.911blogger.com/node/16089
- Flight Data Recorder Handbook for Aviation Accident Investigations http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/Manuals/FDR_Handbook.pdf
- NTSB Elaborates On Absent Records Pertaining To Positively Identified 9/11 Aircraft Wreckage, Including 2 Flight Data Recorders http://www.911blogger.com/node/17139
- Study of Autopilot, Navigation Equipment, and Fuel Consumption Activity Based on United Airlines Flight 93 and American Airlines Flight 77 Digital Flight Data Recorder Information http://www.ntsb.gov/info/autopilot_AA77_UA93_study.pdf
- COMMISSION SENSITIVE UNCLASSIFIED – MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD – Interviews of United Airlines and American Airlines personnel in key roles on September 11, 2001 http://media.nara.gov/9-11/MFR/t-0148-911MFR-01098.pdf
- Another amazing coincidence related to the WTC http://www.911blogger.com/node/13272
- Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster: Passive Fire Protection http://wtc.nist.gov/NISTNCSTAR1-6A.pdf
- World Trade Center Building Performance Study http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_ch1.pdf
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of criminal justice, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.