Administrative Procedures and Agreements Governing Global Radionavigation

Abstract

Worldwide radionavigation systems in use today have evolved over the past 50 years to meet common national and international requirements for transportation. This has been possible through the coordinated efforts of the member states of international organizations. Today, government, industry, and user enthusiasm for applying advances in radiolocation and communications technology is challenging the conventional, slow but methodical international administrative machinery. In an attempt to speed up the regulatory process, some nations and organizations—driven by special interests—are developing unilateral initiatives. This paper examines the mandatory procedures that must be followed under U.S. law to become a signatory to an international agreement, and reviews the current international agreements covering worldwide radionavigation systems.

Towards a Global Navigation System

“…Beukers, 16 gives extracts from the US DOD Annual Space Program expenditures from 1986 to 1991, from which he identifies a direct 'line-item' for GPS at an annual rate of $joo-$600 M plus a proportion of the indirect support costs of some $9-10 billion, which defies any rational interpretation. It has been stated many times that GPS has cost over $ 10 billion to date, of which the proportion of the system costs that is directly attributable to the navigation package, is unknown, and could be a fraction of the total.…”

“…It has been stated many times that GPS has cost over $ 10 billion to date, of which the proportion of the system costs that is directly attributable to the navigation package, is unknown, and could be a fraction of the total. Beukers, 16 gives extracts from the US DOD Annual Space Program expenditures from 1986 to 1991, from which he identifies a direct 'line-item' for GPS at an annual rate of $joo-$600 M plus a proportion of the indirect support costs of some $9-10 billion, which defies any rational interpretation. A ball-park range of $500 M-$IJ billion (o-10 percent indirect costs) for the annual cost, is thus as good a figure as any to start from.…”

“…International issues. Beukers 16 has reviewed the current international agreements covering worldwide radionavigation systems. In reviewing the past, he first emphasizes the difference between short-range, local systems common to worldwide use, and long-range systems used globally.…”

“…The future of Omega. Beukers 16 has cited the international agreements between the US and other countries to implement Omega as a precedent for international agreements covering satellite navigation. By the very nature of the propagation conditions that give VLF global coverage, VLF propagation conditions within £00 km of a station can change substantially with distance from the transmitter.…”

Radionavigation at a Time of Decision

“…25 It has set up a technical information service and international consultation mechanisms 28 ; but it accepts no liability in the event of accidents, neither has it entered into any relevant international agreements. 29 Not unnaturally, other national administrations are reluctant to accept responsibility for, or make mandatory the use of, a navigation system which is under the sole control of the military of another state. The President of this distinguished Institute has summed up the situation thus: ' Any professional user who intends to base his economic survival and perhaps his safety on (GPS) needs solid guarantees of performance and availability that cannot possibly be forthcoming while it is controlled, even partially, by military authority' .…”