Las Vegas may be tricky to maneuver next week
May 23, 2011, 08:02 am
LightSquared, a wireless broadband network, will be testing a new ultra-fast communications system in the Nevada desert next week, possibly knocking out GPS navigation systems, according to the Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration sent out a warning that signals could be compromised in a 350-mile radius that includes Las Vegas.
"It's like if you are in your car or truck and you've been relying on GPS to get someplace, but you might want to make sure you still have a map in your car and get it out," Dick Knapinski, a spokesman for the Experimental Aircraft Association, told the news source.
The frequencies that the company will be using are very close on the electromagnetic spectrum to the ones GPS systems use, according to the AP. The company worked out an agreement with the Federal Communications Commission in order to do this testing. The area was chosen because it has several types of terrain, according to the media outlet.
While pilots life insurance can cover a person in the event of an accident, experts believe that planning ahead, or rescheduling a trip may be the best option in this case.
Are you covered? Are you overpaying? Find out! Get a Quote Now!
|