Hi martinfocazio,

If using Decimal Degrees notation. i.e. DDD.DDD N DDD.DDD W is the one being specified by the helo pilots I would use the following or something similar for the dispatch sentence format. As most GPS equipment can be setup to display 2 geoedetic coordinate systems i.e. a secondary coordinate system in addition to WGS84 Decimal Degrees. I would also ensure that the second coordinate system is outputing UTM coordinates for all the GPS equipment in use.


To notify dispatch of coordinates for an LZ, tell the dispatcher:

"We are setting up an LZ at (name of LZ)"
"DATUM is WGS84. Decimal Degrees GPS coordinates for LZ is as follows"
"FOUR ZERO DECIMAL FIVE-FIVE-NINER NORTH"
"SEVEN FIVE DECIMAL ONE-TWO-TWO WEST"