GLAs welcome European eLoran Forum document
24 April 2008
GPS has revolutionised PNT and the combination of Galileo and GPS promises enhanced performance efficiencies. However, like all satellite navigation systems, GPS and Galileo share common vulnerabilities at signal and user levels. eLoran, a terrestrial radionavigation system, fully independent of GPS & Galileo and delivering comparable levels of performance, does not; thus making it a supporting service.
In February 2008 the United States of America, the premier satellite navigation service provider, changed its national policy in favour of eLoran, emphasising the need for a independent, national PNT that complements GPS in the event of an outage or disruption of service. Other satellite navigation service providers have a similar PNT mix: the Russian Federation operates its Glonass satellite navigation system and its version of eLoran, Chayka; and the People's Republic of China is developing its Compass satellite navigation system and has deployed Loran in the Far East. Only Europe is intending to deploy its eagerly awaited Galileo system without this PNT mix.
Dr Sally Basker, the GLAs' Director of Research and Radionavigation, says, "GPS and Galileo will rightly form the cornerstone of our future European PNT environment. In our rapidly changing and connected World, we need a mature and rational debate about GNSS vulnerability that recognises the strategic benefits of having two satellite navigation systems, Galileo and GPS, as well as the importance of system diversity based on eLoran". She concludes, "Using GPS, Galileo and eLoran together will protect our critical infrastructure and allow our European service providers and users to retain the safety, security and economic benefits of GPS that they currently enjoy even when their satellite services are disrupted."
Notes for Editors
The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the United Kingdom and Ireland are Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Together, they have the statutory responsibility for the provision of marine aids to navigation (AtoNs) around the British Isles. The GLAs' joint mission is the delivery of a reliable, efficient and cost effective AtoN service for the benefit and safety of all mariners.
The European eLoran Forum is an ad hoc group of European organisations that have an interest in eLoran because they currently operate, fund or host eLoran infrastructure. Its purpose is to support the successful introduction, operation and provision of eLoran services in Europe as part of a European Radio Navigation Plan. Current members include the Danish Maritime Safety Agency , France, and the General Lighthouse Authorities of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Norway is an observer.
Enhanced Loran is an internationally-standardized positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service for use by many modes of transport and in other applications. It is the latest in the long-standing and proven series of low-frequency, LOng-RAnge Navigation (LORAN) systems, one that takes full advantage of 21st century technology. eLoran meets the accuracy, availability, integrity, and continuity performance requirements for aviation non-precision instrument approaches, maritime harbor entrance and approach maneuvers, land-mobile vehicle navigation, and location-based services, and is a precise source of time and frequency for applications such as telecommunications1. eLoran is an independent, dissimilar, complement to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). It allows GNSS users to retain the safety, security, and economic benefits of GNSS, even when their satellite services are disrupted.
- The US eLoran policy decision was announced by the Department of Homeland Security on February 7th, 2008.