International Loran Association

25^th Annual Convention and Technical Symposium

November 3-7, 1996, San Diego, California

RESOLUTION

PREAMBLE

The 25^th Annual Convention and Technical Symposium of the International Loran Association was attended by representatives of an international community of States, including those of the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Northwest Europe Loran Service, the Far East Radionavigation Service, the United States and Canada.

The convention addressed current and future plans for the international use of Loran-C services. Convention attendees were encouraged by recently-enacted United States law concerning the operation of Loran-C beyond the year 2000 and the potential for harmonization with Radionavigation Plans for regions outside the United States.

Technical papers reported major advances in Loran-C technology which enhance the synergy with satellite navigation systems, resulting in increased service availability and integrity.

With the exception of representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation, participants were in agreement that Loran-C should remain as part of the radionavigation mix of systems for the foreseeable future. Further, these participants expressed dismay at the insistence of the United States government to discontinue U. S. Loran-C service as soon as the year 2000 in disregard of domestic user input to retain Loran-C and the international plans to expand Loran-C services.

In its final session the Convention ratified its deliberations by passing the following Resolution:

Whereas prasentations made at the Convention confirmed that the international community has adopted the concept of maintaining a mix of terrestrial and satellite position location and navigation systems consistent with the ILA adopted radionavigation policy;

Noting in particular the expansion of Loran-C/Chayka in Europe and Asia and its adoption as an essential part of the radionavigation mix;

Whereas the U.S. Congress finds that a requirement exists to maintain Loran-C well beyond the year 2000, and has initiated legislative action [See U. S. Public Laws 104-324, 104-205 and 104-50] to upgrade the infrastructure;

Recognizing that consultation with users is required in order to comply with the aforementioned legislation;

Noting that the Letter of Promulgation, signed by the U.S. Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, included in the United States Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP) states that the document is the "Official source of radionavigation policy and planning for the Federal Government";

Further Noting that the 1994 FRP is a significant departure from the 1992 issue, and and that it describes plans for for the termination of U. S. Loran-C services by the year 2000 instead of 2015 as previously stated in the 1992 plan;

Noting Also that the information provided by representatives of the Department of Transportation at this Convention confirmed that the 1996 issue of the FRP will continue to state a Loran-C service termination date of the year 2000;

Recognizing the significance of continued operation of the U.S. Loran-C service to maintain and further develop a basis for provision of Loran-C services worldwide to serve user requirements;

Recalling the needs stated by the user community at the two 1996 FRP User Conferences and the Westfields User Conference that unanimously endorsed the continued operation of the Loran-C system as stated in the 1992 FRP;

RESOLVES:

To cooperate fully with U. S. government agencies which have been directed to respond to Congressional Loran-C legislation that requires consultation with users and user organizations;

To continue working with the U. S. Administration and Congress to assure that the transition to a mix of radionavigation systems in the future reflects user requirements and international harmonization while maintaining or improving public safety;

To urge that the U.S. 1996 Federal Radionavigation Plan be consistent with the intent of the Loran-C legislation;

To encourage further development of Loran-C and associated technologies in Europe and Asia, where the system is considered an important element in the current and future mix of navigation systems;

That this offer of cooperation and assistance be formally communicated by the Association's President to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration, the cognizant Congressional committees and other government agencies involved in radionavigation planning.