Galileo good riddance

SIR – The EU is threatening to ban Britain from using the more accurate parts of the Galileo satellite navigation system after Brexit. However, we will still have access to its less accurate positioning, which is accurate enough for most practical purposes. The US GPS, the Russian Glonass and the Chinese Beidou systems will also still be available.

It is therefore not clear why Britain needs to begin a feasibility study into having an independent arrangement when the sky is already full of satellite positioning and timing systems.

Would it not be better to invest the money in a backup navigation and timing system, which would be available if terrorists or enemy nations decided to jam the satellite signals? These are very weak, so relatively easy to interfere with, and can even be made to send out false information.

One backup is readily available, in the form of the terrestrially based system called e-loran. It offers similar accuracy to the satellite systems while being very hard to jam. Such a system, covering Britain and adjacent waters, would reassure navigators and those who are using the accurate timing of GPS, such as communications providers, power supply operators and even the stock market.

E-loran is tried-and-tested technology, and could be up and running in a couple of years – compared with the 10 years or more required to establish a new satellite system. Feasibility studies have already been carried out, so we know that it works. All it needs is the political will to get it moving

Dag Pike

Fellow, Royal Institute of Navigation Bristol