1st

Omega was a Cold War-inspired long-range navigation system which

expanded the principles of Decca and Loran. It used synchronized, ultra-low
frequency radio to create a globally intersecting grid of Lines of Position
(LOP's) which could penetrate underwater.

2nd

• Omega is the first truly global radio navigation system for aircraft

• It enabled ships and aircraft to determine their position by receiving very

low frequency (VLF) radio signals [10-14 kHz] transmitted by a network
of fixed terrestrial radio beacons, using a receiver unit

• It became operational around 1971 and was shut down in 1997

• It was operated by the United States Coast Guard, in partnership with six
other nations

3rd

• John Alvin Pierce, the "Father of Omega," first proposed the use of
continuous wave modulation of VLF signals for navigation purposes in
the 1940's

• After experimenting with various frequencies, he settled on a phase

stable, 10 kHz transmission in the 1950's. Thinking this frequency was
the far end of the radio spectrum Pierce dubbed the transmission
"Omega," for the last letter of the Greek alphabet