This looks like a fixed field length line cut.
The $array[2] line is missing, I am assuming a typo.
Hows about the inelegant

cat text | perl -ne 'chomp ;
              foreach $i(0..length($_)%7) {$x[$i]=substr($_,$i*8,8)};
              foreach $i(0..length($_)%7) {print "\$array[$i]",$x[$i],
+"<\n"}'
[download]

with Perl v5.8.1 on text that contains .. GRID 213736 15235.2 -2606.28596.178

$array[0]GRID    <
$array[1] 213736 <
$array[2]        <
$array[3]15235.2 <
$array[4]-2606.28<
$array[5]596.178<
[download]

Gannett