5B_Omega Hyperbolic Navigation

8/3/2019 5B_Omega Hyperbolic Navigation

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OMEGA HYPERBOLICNAVIGATION


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OMEGA was the first trulyglobal radio navigation

system for aircraft,operated by the United

States in cooperation withsix partner nations.


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NorwayNorway

LiberiaLiberiaFranceFrance

JapanJapan

AustraliaAustralia

ArgentinaArgentina


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HISTORY

Developed by the UnitedStates Navy for military

aviation users

Was approved for fullimplementation in 1968


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Initially, the system was tobe used for navigating

nuclear bombers acrossthe North Pole to Russia

Later it was found usefulfor submarines


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John Alvin Pierce, the "Father of Omega," firstproposed the use of continuous wave

modulation of VLF signals for navigationpurposes in the 1940's.


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RADUX

- measuring the phase difference of

radio signals to compute a location

solution


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After experimenting with various frequencies,he settled on a phase stable, 10 kHz

transmission in the 1950's.

"OMEGA"

- last letter of the Greek alphabet


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1950s Ambiguity errors

Inertial Navigation System (INS)Inertial Navigation System (INS)

TransistorTransistor

19631963

Omega Implementation Committee (OIC)Omega Implementation Committee (OIC)charged with designing the newcharged with designing the new

navaid and, on the basis of theirnavaid and, on the basis of their

experiments, took the decisionsexperiments, took the decisionsabout how Omega would work - theabout how Omega would work - the

choice of frequencies, location ofchoice of frequencies, location of

transmitters, power levels, etc.transmitters, power levels, etc.


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Due to the high cost of constructing VLFDue to the high cost of constructing VLF

antennas (Omega antenna towers wereantennas (Omega antenna towers were

more than 1,200 feet in height), the firstmore than 1,200 feet in height), the first

experimental transmissions were actuallyexperimental transmissions were actuallyexisting VLF communications stations thatexisting VLF communications stations that

were modified for Omega transmissionswere modified for Omega transmissions


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Omega stations usedvery extensiveantennas in order totransmit theirextremely lowfrequencies.Specifically, they

used grounded orinsulated guyedmasts with umbrellaantennas, or wire-

spans across fjords.Some Omegaantennas were thetallest constructionson the continent

where they stood or


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1968

the U.S. Navy authorized full scalethe U.S. Navy authorized full scale

implementation of the Omega Systemimplementation of the Omega System

19711971 transferred from the U.S.Navy to thetransferred from the U.S.Navy to the

U.S. Coast GuardU.S. Coast Guard

Omega Navigation System OperationsOmega Navigation System OperationsDetail (ONSOD)Detail (ONSOD)


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19831983 Omega achieved full eight stationOmega achieved full eight station

implementation in 1983 and was usedimplementation in 1983 and was used

by several airlines flying long rangeby several airlines flying long rangeroutes over water as well as by militaryroutes over water as well as by military

forcesforces


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Each Omega station transmitted avery low frequency signal which consistedof a pattern of four tones unique to the

station that was repeated every tenseconds. Because of this and radionavigation principles, an accurate fix of thereceiver's position could be calculated.

OMEGA employed hyperbolic radionavigation techniques and the chainoperated in the VLF portion of thespectrum between 10 to 14 kHz.

OPERATION
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_low_frequency


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By receiving signals from three stations, an

Omega receiver could locate a position towithin 4 nautical miles using the principle ofphase comparison of signals.


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OMEGA STATIONS


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Trelew, Argentina - tallest construction in South America. On June 23, 1998it was demolished after the OMEGA service was shut down.

Woodside, Victoria, AustraliaWoodside, Victoria, Australia This mast is the highest construction in theThis mast is the highest construction in thesouthern hemisphere. Since the shutdown of OMEGA it is used as a transmittersouthern hemisphere. Since the shutdown of OMEGA it is used as a transmitter

for orders to submarines at 13 kHzfor orders to submarines at 13 kHz


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Due to the success of the Global

Positioning System the use of Omegadeclined during the 1990s, to a pointwhere the cost of operating Omega couldno longer be justified. Omega waspermanently terminated on September 30,1997 and all stations ceased operation.

Some of the stations, such as the LaMourestation, are now used for submarinecommunications.

5B_Omega Hyperbolic Navigation

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