"Newps" wrote in message
...
We will be going to a GPS based system. Alaska has tried this system
under the Capstone name. Basically you will broadcast to ATC your
position and ATC will use that information just as they use the radar
information today.


It looks like Capstone was a aircraft via satellite to ATC position
reporting system.

http://www.faa.gov/news/news_story.c...02&date=040102

Its not clear if Capstone is intended to also let other aircraft in your
vacinity receive your position reports and use that information for
collision avoidance.

The beauty of a broadcast location reporting system is that you are telling
everyone where you are not just ATC and the equipment needed for every other
pilot to recieve your broadcast and display your position on his GPS
display is cheap. Soon the Aviation GPS devices will be able show other
aircraft near your airspace on your moving map in addition to showing your
own location.

The maritime communications industry is developing the Universal Shipborne
Automatic Identification System to do the same job for ships at sea.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/ais.htm