LORAN officially going away?

[PA44-LUV]

<TABLE style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" border=0 frame=void><TBODY><TR><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Coast Guard announces publication of notice of intention to terminate the Long Range Aids to Navigation (Loran-C) signal

</TD></TR><TR><TD>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard's Director of Prevention Policy announced Thursday publication in the Federal Register of plans to cease broadcasting the North American Loran-C signal Feb. 8.
As a result of technological advancements during the last 20 years and the emergence of the U.S. Global Positioning System, Loran-C is no longer required by the armed forces, the transportation sector or the nation's security interests, and is used by only a small segment of the population.
President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2010 budget supported the termination of outdated systems and specifically cited the terrestrial-based North American Loran-C system as such an example. The president did not seek funding for the Loran-C system in fiscal year 2010. Termination was also supported through the enactment of the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
The decision to terminate transmission of the Loran-C signal reflects the president's pledge to eliminate unnecessary federal programs.
The Loran-C system was not established as, nor was it intended to be, a viable systemic backup for GPS. If a single, domestic national system to back up GPS is identified as being necessary, the Department of Homeland Security will complete an analysis of potential backups to GPS. The continued active operation of Loran-C is not necessary to advance this evaluation.
The notice may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2009-0299. for more information on terminations, reductions and savings contained in the fiscal year 2010 budget, including Loran-C, visit www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/TRS/.


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So between this and the FAA wanting to decommission the VOR's by 2020 who wants to go fly IMC with just GPS. I don't know how I feel about no backup at all.
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[N519AT]

I say good riddance. Half the units in the airplanes don't work anymore and when they do, the position is usually off by a good 50+ miles.

 

[matt152]

I used it a few months ago. It worked great for enroute.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Coast Guard announces publication of notice of intention

Yeah, but did they UNVEIL their announcement of their publication of their notice of their intention?

 

[n57flyguy]

The unit I used works great. I was leery when I first used it till I proved it was accurate by cross referencing it to VORs. Had more fun with that.

 

[PA44-LUV]

Yeah, but did they UNVEIL their announcement of their publication of their notice of their intention?

Not quite sure I followed that, but yes, it has been published.

Its on page 998 of the federal register (vol 75, no.4) I tried posting it but it didn't post coorectly. Phase out starts Feb. 8

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[braunpilot]

Yeah, but did they UNVEIL their announcement of their publication of their notice of their intention?

I don't see the USCG holding a press conference to say we want to spend less of your money.

Also, I don't see the FAA being able to disable VORs by 2020. It's 2010 right now and they need to find a backup for GPS and implement it within 10 years? I doubt it.

 

[PA44-LUV]

I don't see the USCG holding a press conference to say we want to spend less of your money.

Also, I don't see the FAA being able to disable VORs by 2020. It's 2010 right now and they need to find a backup for GPS and implement it within 10 years? I doubt it.

The press release made it sound like "GPS is so reliable we don't need a back-up."

This wasn't the Coast Guard's decision to terminate, this came from the Administration.

 

[jtrain609]

You guys know we were flying around with just VOR's and no REAL backup for a long time, right? I mean you didn't really expect people to be like, "Oh snap, EVERY SINGLE VOR IN THE COUNTRY IS GONE! But hold on! I can still use my ADF....erm.....crap I don't really know how to work this thing..."

I used to be more worried about it, but now? I don't think it's as large of an issue as some would think.

 

[mshunter]

You guys know we were flying around with just VOR's and no REAL backup for a long time, right? I mean you didn't really expect people to be like, "Oh snap, EVERY SINGLE VOR IN THE COUNTRY IS GONE! But hold on! I can still use my ADF....erm.....crap I don't really know how to work this thing..."

I used to be more worried about it, but now? I don't think it's as large of an issue as some would think.

Are you saying that VOR's are going away?

 

[jtrain609]

Are you saying that VOR's are going away?

See post #7 in this thread.

 

[mshunter]

I don't see the USCG holding a press conference to say we want to spend less of your money.

Also, I don't see the FAA being able to disable VORs by 2020. It's 2010 right now and they need to find a backup for GPS and implement it within 10 years? I doubt it.

The press release made it sound like "GPS is so reliable we don't need a back-up."

This wasn't the Coast Guard's decision to terminate, this came from the Administration.

You guys know we were flying around with just VOR's and no REAL backup for a long time, right? I mean you didn't really expect people to be like, "Oh snap, EVERY SINGLE VOR IN THE COUNTRY IS GONE! But hold on! I can still use my ADF....erm.....crap I don't really know how to work this thing..."

I used to be more worried about it, but now? I don't think it's as large of an issue as some would think.

opcorn:

 

[MikeD]

I like LORAN. I liked VLF/OMEGA too. Fine systems, though expensive to upkeep.

 

[CoffeeIcePapers]

I don't see why we need a backup for GPS anymore than we need a backup for VOR.

 

[MikeD]

I used to like driving by the USCG LORAN station in Searchlight, NV.......kind of a weird place to find one.

 

[Boris Badenov]

I don't see why we need a backup for GPS anymore than we need a backup for VOR.

I've never entirely lost all VOR nav information with no warning whatsoever, simultaneously, either. I've had that happen several times with whiz-bang IFR certified GPS units.

 

[PA44-LUV]

Okay, didnt' mean to create such a controversial thread.

Maybe it was just panic because I thought I heard rumors about the FAA wanting to decommission the VOR and NDB system and solely go off GPS. But maybe that was just talk to keep the LORAN alive. But we know GPS is not fail safe. Of course if the GPS constellation goes down entirely, we probably got bigger problems than IMC with no navigation guidance, hehe.

I must say though, this got entertaining. My threads never get this kind of reply.

Now pass me the opcorn:

 

[Cessnaflyer]

I used to like driving by the USCG LORAN station in Searchlight, NV.......kind of a weird place to find one.

When I was teaching at Big Bend Community College, the George, Washington LORAN was just south of our practice area. Those are some mighty big towers and they just updated the strobes on them so they are very eerie to see in the fog.

 

[MikeD]

I've never entirely lost all VOR nav information with no warning whatsoever, simultaneously, either. I've had that happen several times with whiz-bang IFR certified GPS units.

GPS isn't immune to meaconing, intrusion, jamming and interference (MIJI). Putting all our global-nav eggs in the GPS basket, as a nation, isn't wise IMHO.

 

[imatworkallday]

GPS isn't immune to meaconing, intrusion, jamming and interference (MIJI). Putting all our global-nav eggs in the GPS basket, as a nation, isn't wise IMHO.

:yeahthat: