Reply To Writer On Omega

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31983, 9 May 1969, Page 12

Reply To Writer On Omega

“The important issue is the merits of the Omega system,” said Dr D. R. Hutton, Mr G. L. Austin, and Mr P. A. G. Howell yesterday in reply to the paper by Nicholas Turner on the

use of Omega source material. “Any errors that may have occurred, though minor, are to be regretted, but the main points of the argument are unaffected.”

The group, members of the staff of the physics department of the University of Canterbury, said in a statement:

“In the first instance we only asked questions of the Government, the answers to which have been scarcely forthcoming (Government briefing, July 1, 1968). Consequently we have attempted to obtain the answers for ourselves by a study of the relevant documentation.”

They listed five points about the Omega system which they said “are some of the issues which we believe should be under discussion, not pages devoted to quibbling over the exact meaning of the wording of particular and conflicting statements.” These statements were:—

“(1) United States literature shows Polaris submarines in advertising material for the Omega system,

most certainly implying a direct connection when coupled with'the statement: ‘Omega is the only navigation method that is as well suited for submarines as for aircraft or surface vessels . . . only reception is required, so the submarine user does not reveal his position.* “(2) The independent military analysis by Buchan, of the Institute of Strategic Studies, London, as reported by Alexander MacLeod in the ‘New Zealand Listener’ on May 9, 1969, concludes that Omega is for military purposes.

“(3) Kuebler, in his paper ‘Marine Electronic Navigation Systems Review’ published in ‘Navigation,’ a journal of the Institute of Navigation, vol. 15, No. 3, says: ‘Omega is a hyperbolic navigation system developed in response to military requirements .. . and because of the very low frequency the signal can also be received down to 59ft below the water surface. This is particularly important, since one of the primary motivating forces in the development and implementation of the Omega system is the requirement of a navigational system for the Polaris submarine . . . and also Omega type systems are regarded by both Navy and Air Force as vulnerable to destruction.’

“(4) The Omega system gives New Zealand users marginally greater accuracy if placed in Australia than if placed here. See P.E.L. Re-

port 340, which says in its summary: ‘lt is concluded that with a station in Tasmania somewhat better daytime accuracies will obtain compared with the system using a station in New Zealand.’ This clearly contradicts the External Affairs Department’s release and the Prime Minister’s statement.

s “(5) The lowest suggested I costs of the installation, viz., ■ about s2m plus annual main- ■ tenance costs of $120,000 a i year quoted by Captain Polk i exceed the total Arts Council • grant plus the estimated costs • of some hundreds of thous- ■ ands of dollars for coastal s marine D/F installation. (Mr Scott)."