Houses passes eloran bill

On Sept. 27, the  U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that required the Coast Guard to develop a radio navigation system that could act as a backup to GPS were that system to be damaged, degraded or rendered inoperative. That backup system is enhanced loran, or eloran, a land-based navigation and timing system the idea for which has been around for decades and which has also seen interest in Europe. When Coast Guard loran system was shut down in 2009, many of the 1,000-foot broadcast towers were taken down, so even if the Senate goes along with this bill and loran is authorized and funded to go forward those towers will need to be rebuilt. More on this subject at SeaPower magazine.