Radionavigation System to Stay the Same

J. A. Woller, weather chairman of the Transpacific (TRANSPAC) Yacht Club in Costa Mesa says the present structure of federally funded radionavigation systems for ocean and air travel will remain essentially unchanged for the remainder of the century as far as maritime navigation is concerned.

Woller, a retired flight navigator, is using his expertise to help the annual Los Angeles to Hawaii TRANSPAC sailboat race. Last week, he attended a Departments of Defense (DOD) and Transportation hearing in Long Beach that was held to clarify federal policy as to the most cost effective methods of running the radionavigation systems.

Here is the rundown on the future of all radionavigation systems:

RADIO BEACONS serve both maritime and aeronautical uses with low-cost navigation, remaining part of the mix into the next century.

LORAN-C, for both civil and military and surface users, will be phased out for military use overseas by 1992. The system serving the continental U.S. and its coastal area will remain a part of the navigation structure into the next century.

OMEGA, a global navigation system serving maritime and air users, and is the sole means of air navigation in some oceanic areas, will be be phased out of military air use by 1992. It will remain a part of the rest of the system into year 2000.

VOR/DME is the sole means of air navigation in the National Airspace System. DOD will phase out military use and support by 1997. But as the international standard for civil air navigation in controlled airspace, it will remain the short distance aviation navigation system well into the next century.

TACAN, a short range navigation system used primarily by military aircraft, will be phased out by 1997 as a land-based system. By then it will be integrated with GPS, a DOD developed worldwide satellite based system scheduled to be in operation by 1988. GPS has the potential of becoming a sole means air control system for the U.S. However, shipboard TACAN systems will continue in operation after 1997. There will be no direct charges to civil users of GPS service.

ILS/MLS/PDME are precision approach systems for aircraft. MLS will replace ILS.

TRANSIT is a satellite based navigation system operated by DOD. It will be replaced by GPS by 1994 and will by operated by or transferred to a civilian agency of the government.

The rosewood and teak profile of the Braginton 42 echoes the era of the Chris Smith and Gar Wood classic mahogany runabouts, but the wood planking cloaks a high-tech Airex foam fill of modern design and construction. This vessel, capable of a cruising speed of 35 knots with a top speed of 40 knots, made its world debut Tuesday at the Southern California Boat Show continuing through Feb. 9 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. The vessel, powered by twin Caterpillar 3208 diesel engines, was built by the Braginton Boat Co., Friday Harbor, Washington.