Navigation system Omega

The navigation system Oméga was the first truly universal system of Radionavigation air ever developed then used by the the United States of America and six countries partners.

History

Conceived by the American Navy for its Military aviation, the system of Oméga radionavigation was seriously set up as from 1968 with like promise the cover of all the Océan S of the sphere and the possibility for its users of determining a position with a margin of four mile S. At the origin, the system was especially to be used for navigation of the bomber S Nucléaire S beyond the North pole, until in Soviet Union.

Once the eight stations entered in communication the ones with the others in 1971, of many operations were carried out the every day by the Garde-côte S of the various countries partners thanks to them. One in addition discovered their utility to guide the Sous-marin S. With the passing of years, the system was employed especially more and more with the fine civil ones.

In the Years 1990, the success of the Global Positioning System led to a retreat of its use, so much so that maintenance was not justified any more. The system was definitively stopped and all the stations ceased emitting the September 30th 1997.

Stations

There were eight Oméga transmitters all over the world, each one indicated by a letter of the alphabet:

has in Norway.
B with Paynesville, the Liberia.
C with Kanehoe, Hawaii.
D with LaMoure, in the North Dakota.
E with Saint-Paul, the Meeting.
F with Trelew, in Argentinian.
G with Woodside, in Australia.
H with Shushi-Wan, the Japan.

The Australian station had at the origin being installed in New Zealand but was not built there following peace marches.

Each station transmitted a signal to very a low frequency ranging between 10 and 14 Khz. This signal consisted of a whole of four tons repeated every ten seconds. The precise position of the user could be given thanks to the reception of several signals.

The station of LaMoure is used today in Navy as communication system with its Sous-marins.

Antennas

Many antennas of the system were destroyed following its outage. It is the case of that of the Oméga transmitter of Chabrier, in the west of the island of the Réunion, consisted of mast a 428 height meters. From its height, it formerly constituted a visual reference mark in all North-West of the island. The zone reserved for its foot is so vast that it should in the long term accommodate a new Ville. It acted before its demolition, the April 14th 1999, of highest human construction in France, highest in Metropolitan France being the transmitting Allouis.

In general, the antennas built within the framework of the system were greatest human constructions of the areas in which they were established. Thus, the top of its 366 meters, the Argentinian antenna was the most construction of South America until its demolition the June 23rd 1998. Always drawn up, the Australian antenna at present remains the highest construction of the Southern hemisphere. It is 432 meters high.

External bonds

Site on the system Omega
Site on the system Omega

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