LORAN to Be Switched-Off?
Years ago, I worked on a simulated LORAN-C device (for use in ship handling simulators)…
SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security is considering the need to continue to operate or invest in the North American LORAN–C Radionavigation System beyond fiscal year 2007. Future investment decisions might include: Decommissioning the LORAN–C system, maintaining the LORAN–C system as currently configured, or developing a fully deployed Enhanced LORAN (eLORAN) system. Contributing factors to these decisions are (1) whether the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other available back-up systems are adequate for the public’s navigation and timing needs, thus making the LORAN–C system redundant, and (2) whether the eLORAN investments made to date provide enhancements that now merit consideration as a complementary capability to GPS, and not merely as a GPS back-up. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security seek public input on the various decisions currently under consideration. For more information on LORAN, you may visit http://www.navcen.uscg.gov.
