In radar coverage, what assistance can ATC provide after GPS failure?

In radar coverage, what assistance can ATC provide after GPS failure?

• A. Radar vectors
• B. Visual gap management
• C. Direct to flight plan fix
• D. Clearance void time

Answer: (A)

Radar vectors are the practical way ATC keeps an aircraft running safely when GPS fails, as long as radar coverage is available. Since ATC can see the airplane’s position on the radar screen, controllers can issue precise heading instructions to steer the aircraft along the intended route or toward a known fix, maintaining the required separation from other traffic. This guidance continues until the aircraft can rejoin the flight plan using other navigation aids or GPS is restored. Other options don’t fit as well in this scenario. Visual gap management relies on maintaining visual separation, which isn’t reliable in all conditions and isn’t the standard tool when you’re relying on radar guidance. Directing the flight to a fix would require the aircraft to navigate to that fix without GPS, which isn’t as dependable under GPS outage. Clearance void time is a procedural concept about how long a clearance remains valid and doesn’t provide navigational guidance.

Radar vectors are the practical way ATC keeps an aircraft running safely when GPS fails, as long as radar coverage is available. Since ATC can see the airplane’s position on the radar screen, controllers can issue precise heading instructions to steer the aircraft along the intended route or toward a known fix, maintaining the required separation from other traffic. This guidance continues until the aircraft can rejoin the flight plan using other navigation aids or GPS is restored.

Other options don’t fit as well in this scenario. Visual gap management relies on maintaining visual separation, which isn’t reliable in all conditions and isn’t the standard tool when you’re relying on radar guidance. Directing the flight to a fix would require the aircraft to navigate to that fix without GPS, which isn’t as dependable under GPS outage. Clearance void time is a procedural concept about how long a clearance remains valid and doesn’t provide navigational guidance.