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LORAN C
LORAN HISTORY
LORAN was an American development, advancing the
technology of the British GEE radio navigation system that
was used early in World War II. While GEE had a range of
about 400 miles (644 km), initial LORAN systems had a
range of 1,200 miles (1,930 km). It originally was known
as "LRN" for Loomis Radio Navigation, after Alfred Lee
Loomis, who invented the longer range system and played
a crucial role in military research and development during
World War II, but later was renamed to the abbreviation
for the more descriptive term.
LORAN Overview
1st Modern practical area navigation system
for use in general aviation.
Developed for maritime navigation. Early
LORAN As were exclusively for marine
use
Still in use today although its use beyond 6
8 years from now is uncertain
LORAN Overview
Certain LORAN-C receivers are approved for IFR
Enroute and Terminal navigation but not for
approaches.
Most LORAN-C recievers are used for VFR
navigation
For all practical purposes (for the pilot) LORANC provides the same type of nav. Data to the pilot
( ground track, desired track, groundspeed, ETE)
LORAN Theory
Operates in the LOW frequency
electromagnetic energy radio bandwidth
which follows the curvature of the earth
therefore making it suitable for longer
ranges
LORAN make use of 1750 kHz, 1850 kHz,
1900 kHz and 1950 kHz while LORAN-C
make use of 110 kHz
LORAN Theory
The LORAN-C concept is based on groups
or chains of stations around the world.
Worldwide there are 28 chains.
Each chain consists of one master station
and 4 6 secondary stations in a geographic
area (ie. Northeast U.S.chain, Great Lakes
U.S. chain, etc.)
LORAN Theory
The master station of each chain broadcasts
a continuous string of Low Frequency
pulses (measures in microseconds).
The unique time between the start and stop
of each pulse identifies the particular chain.
LORAN Theory
This time is known as the Group Repetition
Interval or GRI.
For instance the time between the start and
stop of each pulse in the northeast U.S.
chain is 99,600 microseconds or 9960 for
short. 9960 is identified as the great lakes
chain
LORAN Theory
The GRI is entered into the LORAN-C unit
in the aircraft upon startup along with the
approximate LAT./Long. Position during
the initialization process. This helps the
unit find its position more quickly.
LORAN Theory
The LORAN-C unit then searches for that
master station and the two strongest
secondary signals.
The master station pulse triggers a response
from the secondary stations. The receiver
corrects for any time lag in pulse reply.
LORAN Theory
The receiver then calculates the time it takes
these signals to reach the aircraft and
essentially generates hyperbolic Lines of
Position (LOP) from each station- known
as a hyperbolic lines of position since the
lines look like a parabola.
LORAN Theory
Two intersecting hyperbolas produce two
possible points for the aircraft position.
Using a second slave (or secondary) station
the receiver then pinpoints its position.
Entering the Lat./long. During initialization
also aids in this process.
LORAN OPERATION
One station is referred to
as the Master and the
others as Slaves
LORAN OPERATION
At least two lines of
position are required
for a position fix thus
more than one slave
is required
LORAN OPERATION
A useful property of the
hyperbola is that its
tangent at any point
bisects the angle
subtended by the line
joining the two foci
LORAN OPERATION
Each station transmits a series of
eight of these pulses
Pulse separation is 1000s (1ms)
This pulse has a bandwidth of
about 20kHz
LORAN OPERATION
A group consisting of a Master and
up to four slaves is called a chain
Each chain is identified by a Group
Repetition Rate (GRI) which is the
time between transmissions from
the master.
Each slave transmits its pulse train at a specified interval
after the master has transmitted.
This is called the emission delay (ED) and is made up of
the master-slave time (MS) and a coding delay (CD)
LORAN OPERATION
LORAN Limitations
Area of coverage limited to chains which
dont give global coverage
The sky wave component of the signal
bounces off the ionosphere causing
navigational errors when traveling greater
than 1,000 NM from the farthest master or
secondary station- causes errors in position
of up to three miles (greater in some cases).
LORAN Limitations
As the aircraft moves through precipitation, it
generates static electricity which generates
electromagnetic noise around the aircraft
thereby interfering with the LORAN signalcausing the Signal Strength to Noise ratio (SNR
ratio) to go to unacceptable limits.
SNR ratio is a function of precip. Intensity and
distance from the stations.
LORAN- Accuracy
LORAN accuracy is also best over water
during the day.
Conversely it is least accurate over land
masses at night (sky waves more intense at
night).
LORAN Accuracy
Repeatable Accuracy- ability to return to a
pre-set position for LORAN-C is .01 NM or
60ft.
Absolute Accuracy- ability of the receiver
to determine its position independently is
generally within at least 3 NM for distances
up to 2,800 NM.