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By Greg Bartlett

Some people like to know where they are, where they’ve been, and where their family members have been. These people may use a GPS tracking unit to monitor their vehicle’s location and find out all the information they want about where their vehicle has been. For most people, a GPS unit is a convenience, but for some, it could be a necessary and life-saving device.

Airplane Safety

In airplanes, knowing exactly where a plane is located is vital for the pilot, Air Traffic Control, and other planes. Radar systems, which are often used to locate planes, only work for a certain distance, and with ocean flights, this can be deadly. Radar only reached about 200 miles off the coastline, so when a pilot flies over the ocean further than that, only the pilot knows where the plane is – presuming that the pilot does know. And oceans aren’t the only danger. Mountainous regions and everyday flying can present some dangers. Knowing an airplane’s exact location, by both the pilot and Air Traffic Control, can increase safety and efficiency.

For instance, if Air Traffic Control knows the pilot’s exact location, it can tell the pilot about upcoming weather alerts, and help to guide the pilot in the event that the plane gets lost. Using a GPS tracking unit, pilots can discover exactly where they are, and should be able to locate other planes and avoid running into them.

Furthermore, if a plane has a GPS tracking unit installed and the plane crashes, either Air Traffic Control or the pilot – or both – will know exactly where the airplane is and can send for help immediately.

The sooner help arrives, the more likely the pilot’s and any passengers’ lives could be saved. Of course, sometimes all of the plane’s occupants may die in a crash, such as a recent incident in Iowa, but because of a GPS unit, they were able to locate the plane quickly to recover the bodies and any information that could be used to avoid future crashes. GPS units are also very helpful if a plane gets lost. One trainee pilot got lost on a solo flight, and the instructors, who were watching the plane via GPS, were able to guide him to safety.

Knowing where a plane is at all times is important to the pilot, any passengers, other planes, and Air Traffic Control, and it is possible to know a plane’s location and increase safety with a GPS tracking unit.