Federal Radio-Navigation Plan - Assignment Example

 The Federal Navigation Plan (FRP) Overview As federal government has formulated policy framework for regulation and planning of radio-navigation concepts and systems; the Federal Radio-navigation Plan reflects the same. Therefore, FRP covers systems that are used by federal agencies for terrestrial and space based applications. As these systems have individual and group functions, they are used together, in combination with other systems. While FRP does not include surveillance-functioning and communication systems, it normally deals with the policies and plans connected with Global Positioning System, Long Range navigation, Distance Measuring Equipment, Instrument landing system, Microwave landing System and Tactical Air Navigation, among others.( 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan ) Prepared jointly by Department of Transport and Department of Defense, FRP is required according to National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1998 (10 USC 2281(c)). While FRP has been updated in 1999 and 2001, (2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan ), the current version belongs to the latest FRP 2008. While the Federal government aims at providing safe transportation in a cost-effective manner and encouraging commerce and trade, globally and within United States; FRP is a tool with the government for achieving such aim. The use of FRP becomes necessary in view of Various specific legislations from different federal departments, which include Department of Transportation’s responsibility for ensuring safe and efficient transportation under Title 49 United States Code Section 101 (49 USC—101)(Ref 1). Similarly Department of Defense is responsible for providing sustainable GPS for defense uses, apart from ensuring the operation of same for peaceful civil, scientific and commercial uses, on world-wide basis. .( 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan ) As FRP comprises of five sections, namely, Introduction, Roles and Responsibilities, Policy, Radio-navigation System User Requirements and Operating Plans; this paper would briefly discuss the Introduction to the Federal Radio-navigation Plan. Purpose of FRP The purpose of FRP is formulating an integrated policy and plan for all commercial, civil and defense navigation systems, while specifying the requirements of common use applications, involving different navigations systems. In addition, FRP is used for providing planning schedules and information pertaining to the US Government (USG) radio-navigation system. While providing a platform for user-input, FRP is meant to clarify unresolved common issues related to radio-navigation system. (2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan) Scope of FRP All navigation systems, as provided federally, to be used in positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) applications would come under the scope of FRP. However, communication and time systems are not covered under the scope of FRP. These include cell phones, radar and WWV, among others. Accordingly, following systems are addressed in FRP: Global Positioning System GPS would be operated by Department of Defense (DOD) and the same would be managed by interagency GPS Executive Board. There will be no user charges for availability of Standard Positioning Service (SPS) to users, worldwide, on continuous basis. Precise Positioning Service is the most accurate application, directly available from GPS, which is meant for US military and federal government users. (Charron, Status Report) Augmentation to GPS The purpose of providing augmentations to GPS is to ensure accuracy, integrity, availability and reliability to positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for meeting its specific requirements. Nationwide Differential GPS System (NDGPS) is a ground-based augmentation system, which is managed by Federal Railroad Administration, US Coast Guard and Federal Highway Administration, meant to provide increased accuracy to specific users. US Federal Aviation Administration operates Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which provides aircraft navigation for all flights. Jet propulsion Laboratory has developed Global Differential GPS (GDGPS) that supports the real time positioning and timing requirements of NASA and other such agencies. (GPS Augmentations) Long Range Navigation This is a hyperbolic system of electronic navigation, to ensure accuracy in the radio-navigation systems as provided in FRP. While it provides lines of position over the earth’s surface, the Loran signals can be transmitted up to a range of 2800 miles, over water, with the help of low frequency radio waves. (Long Range Navigation) Technical Air Navigation This system provides distance information to the air crew, based on polar-coordinate type air navigation system application. While the indication is given by two meters, one shows the distance in nautical miles and other meter provides the direction of flight in degrees. This equipment installed in the aircraft comes under the scope of FRP, which ensures the availability of accurate information to the pilot regarding distance and direction of the aircraft. (Technical Air Navigation) Objectives The objectives of FRP include provision of safe travel, ensuring national security, promotion of effective and efficient transportation system. In addition, the federal navigation policy aims art improving the transportation system, while ensuring the growth of economy through efficient commerce and trade and increased productivity across the nation. Department of Transport (DOT) depends on FRP and other navigation systems for discharging its responsibility to provide safe and efficient transportation, required under rule 49 USC—101. Accordingly, Federal Aviation Administration and St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, two elements of DOT, which operate radio-navigation systems, are responsible for application of FRP policy. Highlights of FRP 2008 While the FRP document is updated biennially, the FRP 2008 was approved in January 2009. Few highlights of this plan are: In case of GPS, The plan envisages interoperability with foreign space-based PNY systems for global uses of civil, commercial and scientific importance, internationally. This would also include US government’s adherence to DGPS international standards, as well as, accepting the recommendation of Space-based Augmentation system services. Discontinuation of cordless and semi-cordless GPS access, fro which the cut-off date has been set as 31st Dec 2020, as users of such receiving equipment are supposed to transit to civil-coded signals by this date. (Gakstatter, 2010) Fund allocation plan for FY2009 The overall plan comprises of $5.713 million, for upgrading and adding Global Positioning System and next generation Air transport System. The plan includes around $3.500 million for User Equipment Synchronization to conduct management and planning activities, as required by National space-based NPT executive committee. This will include funds for site staff support ASD (NII)/ (DOD) CIO space programs, updating and coordinating GPS security policy, authoring and coordinating the Navigation Warfare Concept of Operations and Next Generation Air Transport system, with cooperation from FAA and Air Force, along with other important matters. In addition, the funds are disbursed for the authoring and coordinating between DOD and DOT to define responsibilities for FRP updating. .(Unclassified- Budget activity) Fund allocation plan for FY2010 For FY 2010, $ 5.82 million are provided to update the system and concepts of FRP, which would mainly include $3.5 million for further upgrading the GPS and other augmentation systems, while providing funds for site and support staff, with the aim of developing more secure and accurate feature for radio-navigation.(Unclassified- Budget activity) Conclusion Although there are several factors which are responsible for delivering the optimum achievement of FRP, the consideration of operational, technical, institutional, radio frequency spectrum allocation, national defense needs and international parameters need to be considered while selecting the proper radio-navigation system. However, it has been observed that GPS signal is vulnerable at times and any loss of signal can cause havoc with aircraft and marine navigation, while such vulnerability can affect the schedules and revenues. Hence, looking at this drawback in GPS, the FRP may be revised as GPS cannot be the only means of navigation. (Bond, 1998) With reference to John Hopkins University study conducted in 1999, GPS with appropriate WAAS and LAAS configurations was supposed to satisfy the navigation performance requirements of any aircraft for safety purposes. However, looking at the Volpe report after 9/11, the authenticity of this study is debatable. Hence, the FRP systems, particularly the GPS functioning and system augmentations need revisions. (Sheridan, 2002) Nevertheless, with the revised 2008 FRP, several new systems have been including in the already existing FRP. These include distance measuring equipment, very high frequency and omni-directional range systems, instrument landing system and microwave landing system. These along with the existing application systems are better equipped to provide national security, as well as, safe and efficient transportation system. (Federal Radionavigation Plan s updated, 2009) WORKS-CITES 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan, Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/2008_Federal_Radionavigation_Plan.pdf Bond Langhorne, 1998, “The Federal navigation Plan And the FAA Air Traffic Control System of the Future” Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: “Federal Radionavigation Plan s updated”, 2009, retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://bulktransporter.com/fleet/technology/federal_radionavigation_plan_0409/http://www.loran.org/ILAArchive/LanghorneBondPapers/04FRPandATCforTheFuture.pdf GPS Augmentations, US Govt. Publication, Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://www.gps.gov/systems/augmentations/ Gakstatter Eric, “Survey, The Federal Radionavigation Plan”, Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://www.gpsworld.com/survey/the-federal-radionavigation-plan-9332 Long Range Navigation, Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://www.tpub.com/content/aviation/14030/css/14030_51.htm Sheridan John, 2002, “DOT/DOD releases its latest federal radionavigation plan” Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/dotdod-releases-its-latest-federal-radionavigation-plan-15530/ Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), Electronics Technician--- Navigation Systems Retrieved on 28th -31st Oct 2010, from: http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:PVR87bvidvgJ:www.hnsa.org/doc/pdf/et5.pdf+Tactical+air+navigation--FRP&hl=en&gl=in&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgRHD-Htn3pfVKwANMPZLAuHmxOCLi0zR4LuBQ2A022lZq8Rzs9M_0Nk5mCG4u9ldS3isao8D8bPTrn28ooWccbjLl_bhrCtKdZDgvp2aD2QDt5lklX4eNbido2eiPlV-67crXo&sig=AHIEtbTjgwH_-MIXEVsm6aK54CLbvodduQ Unclassified- Budget activity, Retrieved on 2nd Nov 2010, from : http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2010/OSD/0605170D8Z.pdf Read More