U.S. DOT Seeks Comments on eLoran as GPS Backup System

The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking comment on a potential enhanced long-range navigation system (eLoran) to provide positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capability that can complement the Global Positioning System. The DOT’s office of the assistant secretary for research and technology published the request for comments in today’s Federal Register, saying that U.S. space-based PNT policy requires the department to work with the Department of Homeland Security on a backup system in the event that GPS is disrupted. It is exploring the implementation of eLoran as that backup, the agency said. 

The DOT expects that the PNT performance of eLoran would vary, depending on the number of transmitters and monitor sites for corrections that are implemented. It is seeking comments through May 22 on a number of factors involved in its implementation, including the availability of user equipment and willingness of operators to equip with an eLoran receiver. The DOT further explores technical requirements of the system, asking about the PNT performance required for a complementary system, availability and coverage area required and applications of PNT services. 

It is also seeking information on other non-eLoran PNT technologies or operational procedures.