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All of this happens within a matter of seconds, ensuring the continuous accuracy of
your GPS system.
LPV approaches are a WAAS/GPS based approach, and they're very similar to the
ILS. But there is a difference. Even though LPV approaches have vertical guidance,
they're not considered precision approaches. Instead, they're an approach with
vertical guidance (APV). The extremely accurate WAAS system (7.6 meters or better
accuracy) gives you lateral and vertical guidance down to a decision altitude (DA)
like an ILS. And, just like an ILS, an LPV approach's angular guidance gets more
sensitive the closer you get to the runway. Keep in mind though, to fly them, you
need a WAAS receiver. A baro-aided GPS won't work.
There's definitely an advantage to LPV. Unlike an ILS, which gets more and more
sensitive and difficult to fly near and below DA, the scaling on an LPV approach
transitions to a linear scaling as you approach the runway. It has a total course
width of 700' (usually) at the runway threshold. That 700' of width at the threshold
is the same as an ILS localizer at the threshold, but it doesn't get any tighter than
that as you continue to touchdown.
LPV approaches get you low as well. Like an ILS, most LPV approaches will get you
down to 200' above touchdown, with 1/2 mile visibility.
But there is a downside. Since LPV approaches aren't considered precision
approaches, you can't use precision alternate minimums for airports that only have
LPV. According to the FAA, if you're using an airport with LPV only (no ILS or other
ground-based nav-aid approach) as your alternate airport, you need weather
minimums that meet the LNAV or circling MDA, or the LNVA/VNAV DA if you're
equipped to fly it. (There are a few more details as well, which you can find in AIM 1-2-
3, paragraph D.)