LORAN? You're kidding, right? Most of the weekend-warrior variety of boaters don't keep paper charts (and don't really know how to use them) since the GPS magic boxes appeared. Never mind know how to plot a LORAN fix.
Same goes for cars. I give lots of directions in the summer. Many people claim their GPS will get them there. I say "Yup, let me draw a map anyway".
Also: On 26 Feb 2009, the The U.S. Office of Management and Budget released the first blueprint for the Financial Year 2010 budget.[7] This document identifies the Loran-C system as “outdated” and supports its termination at an estimated savings of $36 million in 2010 and $190 million over five years. On 7 May 2009, President Barack Obama proposed cutting funding (approx. $35 million/year) for LORAN, citing its redundancy alongside GPS.
Re: LORAN - Not kidding. Worked in avionics firm where subj. came up as to recent adoption by PRC for their new sats. on same GPS freq. as Europe's system for military use.
Re: Obama - Like all Presidents, the office of management and budget gave him an item to sign to 'save money' and he signed it. Look it a bit further and you'll find that Homeland Security and Intel agencies (Incl. Rockefeller) are arguing to keep LORAN and move to eLoran.
Redundancy, redundancy. We must demand it despite the cost. Applies to all things critical.
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