VOR/DME system improvements

The VOR/DME/TACAN system of short distance navigation in the United States has provided service over the past decade to all civil and military air traffic. Improvements have been incorporated which have been in the nature of refinements, assuring adequate performance for all current aircraft needs. Recent analyses indicate that continued use of VOR/DME to meet increased civil air traffic demands through 1980 will require that the system demonstrate a capability for greater accuracy for terminal area operations, an improvement in signal quality to support area navigation, and the potential for increased traffic handling capacity of the DME component. Development activities now underway indicate that such improvements are feasible. Evaluation results and new techniques are described in support of this conclusion.