BA B747's and GPS

[roadrabbit]

I should know the answer to this, but don't. When was GPS first fitted to the British Airways B747 fleet?

[eckhard]

Around 1999 I think.

[wiggy]

FWIW first note I have in my logbooks about any RNAV approach checking or training in the sim dates from 2005. Given as I recall it GPS was on the airframe some time before that evolution in our procedures I'd say eckhard's guess of around 1999 or at least at some point around the turn of the century wouldn't be far out...

[TopBunk]

I first joined the fleet in mid 1997 and left in mid 2001. The GPS units were being fitted in that timeframe.

I'd go along with Eckhard's thoughts.

[eckhard]

I also vaguely remember a fleet notice about the “millennium bug”, which made some reference to GPS and non-GPS-equipped aircraft, so that would support 1999 as a likely start-date for fitting the receivers.