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Aviation glossary

Global Positioning System

What is global positioning system?

Illustration related to global positioning system
Image: U.S. Government Accountability Office from Washington, DC, United States — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based radio navigation system that uses a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth, each broadcasting a unique signal. A receiver tracks multiple satellites simultaneously and uses their signals to determine the user's precise position anywhere in the world. Think of it as your aircraft listening to several satellites at once and triangulating exactly where you are.

Also known as: GPS, global positioning system

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