The Use of the 3.4 kHz Omega Difference Frequency for Aircraft Navigation.
Abstract
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducted an investigation to determine the effect of multi-mode propagation on the usefulness of the Omega 3.4 KHz difference frequency for aircraft navigation. This investigation was conducted under the sponsorship of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and with the cooperation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A NOAA aircraft that was equipped with Omega receivers was used for this investigation. Flights were made between Grand Forks AFB, Grand Forks, North Dakota and Piarco airport in Trinidad. Position fixes, for comparison with those obtained from the Omega system, were obtained from the standard VOR/VORTAC stations when the aircraft was over the continental United States and doppler radar and inertial systems were used on the portion of the flights that were over water. The flights made during nighttime conditions when the effects of multi-mode propagation were the most pronounced. The data for this specific path and under nighttime conditions show that the 3.4 kHz difference frequency can be used for navigation using only simple correction factors if an accuracy of + or - 5 miles is acceptable. More data are required to determine the accuracy that can be obtained in other areas and during other propagation conditions. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0914228
Entities
People
- James P. Hauser
- John W. Brogden
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory