What system was developed by the Federal Aviation Administration to augment the GPS and improve accuracy?

The system developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to augment GPS and improve its accuracy is referred to as WAAS, which stands for Wide Area Augmentation System. WAAS is designed to provide lateral and vertical guidance to aircraft during approach and landing phases by enhancing the precision of GPS signals.

WAAS achieves this by using a network of ground reference stations that monitor GPS satellite signals. These stations calculate the necessary corrections for GPS signals based on local atmospheric conditions and other factors that can introduce inaccuracies. The corrected signals are then transmitted to geostationary satellites, which relay the information back to GPS receivers within the coverage area, allowing for significantly improved position accuracy.

This system is instrumental in supporting aviation safety and allows for precision approaches in areas where conventional ground-based navigation aids may not be available. By utilizing WAAS, pilots receive more reliable and accurate navigation data, thus enhancing operational capabilities and improving situational awareness during flight operations.