diff --git a/ArduCopter/GCS.h b/ArduCopter/GCS.h
index af1c5c1c42..2053d9c80f 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/GCS.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/GCS.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ public:
     void        init(AP_HAL::UARTDriver *port) {
         _port = port;
         initialised = true;
-        last_gps_satellites = 255;
     }
 
     /// Update GCS state.
@@ -75,9 +74,6 @@ public:
     // set to true if this GCS link is active
     bool            initialised;
 
-    // used to prevent wasting bandwidth with GPS_STATUS messages
-    uint8_t         last_gps_satellites;
-
 protected:
     /// The stream we are communicating over
     AP_HAL::UARTDriver *      _port;
diff --git a/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde b/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde
index aad3ef7a6f..c421be7c85 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde
+++ b/ArduCopter/GCS_Mavlink.pde
@@ -614,11 +614,6 @@ static bool mavlink_try_send_message(mavlink_channel_t chan, enum ap_message id,
         send_raw_imu3(chan);
         break;
 
-    case MSG_GPS_STATUS:
-        CHECK_PAYLOAD_SIZE(GPS_STATUS);
-        send_gps_status(chan);
-        break;
-
     case MSG_CURRENT_WAYPOINT:
         CHECK_PAYLOAD_SIZE(MISSION_CURRENT);
         send_current_waypoint(chan);
@@ -994,16 +989,6 @@ GCS_MAVLINK::data_stream_send(void)
         send_message(MSG_GPS_RAW);
         send_message(MSG_NAV_CONTROLLER_OUTPUT);
         send_message(MSG_LIMITS_STATUS);
-
-
-        if (last_gps_satellites != g_gps->num_sats) {
-            // this message is mostly a huge waste of bandwidth,
-            // except it is the only message that gives the number
-            // of visible satellites. So only send it when that
-            // changes.
-            send_message(MSG_GPS_STATUS);
-            last_gps_satellites = g_gps->num_sats;
-        }
     }
 
     if (stream_trigger(STREAM_POSITION)) {
diff --git a/ArduCopter/defines.h b/ArduCopter/defines.h
index 58622ef47c..ffc95a666e 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/defines.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/defines.h
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ enum ap_message {
     MSG_RAW_IMU1,
     MSG_RAW_IMU2,
     MSG_RAW_IMU3,
-    MSG_GPS_STATUS,
     MSG_GPS_RAW,
     MSG_SERVO_OUT,
     MSG_NEXT_WAYPOINT,