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Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM

The 2008 Federal Radionavigation Plan (FRP) has been released by the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Defense, and Homeland Security. Published jointly by the three departments, the plan describes federal policy for operating and regulating common-use radionavigation systems with the goal of improving both national security and safety and efficiency of the nation's transportation system.

The federal government operates radionavigation systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) to enable safe transportation and encourage commerce within the United States. The FRP outlines the policy and plan for operating federal radionavigation systems used in positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) applications and suggests how existing systems may be consolidated and improved. It also aims to strengthen the mix of civil and military systems that will advance the transportation infrastructure by increasing its capacity to move people and products safely and efficiently.

Systems addressed in the plan include: GPS and GPS Augmentations; Long Range Navigation (Loran); Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-directional Range (VOR); Distance Measuring Equipment (DME); Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN); Instrument Landing System (ILS); Microwave Landing System (MLS); and Aeronautical Nondirectional Radiobeacons (NDB).

The FRP is available online at www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/frp2008/2008_Federal_Radionavigation_Plan.pdf.