EFFECTS OF HIGH LATITUDE GEOPHYSICAL EVENTS ON VHF AERONAUTICAL NAVIGATION AIDS

This study was initiated to experimentally determine what effect, if any, geophysical disturbances such as auroras, solar flares and magnetic storms have on VHF aeronautical navigation aids, in particular VOR, in high latitude regions. Recording VOR monitor stations were designed and assembled and subsequently installed at Ester Dome (Fairbanks VOR), Pedro Dome (Fairbanks VOR), and Hoonah (Sisters Island VOR). These monitor stations employed aircraft navigation receivers and antennas to duplicate, as much as possible, aircraft operating conditions. Continuous data were collected over a 10-1/2 month period. Radial course deviation and signal strength were recorded and compared with the geophysical data normally collected by the Geophysical Institute over the same period of time. No appreciable effects on short range navigation signals were produced by solar fluxes, magnetic storms, and substorms, auroras, or solar noise.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Alaska, College

  Geophysical Institute
  College, AK  United States  99701

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Systems R&D Service, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Rasmussen, R D
• Publication Date: 1975-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 83 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Astronomy; Atmospheric phenomena; Electromagnetic radiation; Flares; Ionosphere; Navigational aids; Radio frequency interference; Solar radiation; Storms; Very high frequency
• Uncontrolled Terms: Solar flares
• Old TRIS Terms: Atmospheric disturbances; Aurorae; Ionospheric disturbances; Magnetic storms
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00093461
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Task A Final Rpt., FAA-RD-75-136
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FA74WA-3356
• Files: NTIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 14 1976 12:00AM