This was the chain proposed for the helicopter services of New York Airways Inc. The baselines are 60 miles long. Locations are approximate. (Map courtesy Mapquest.com)

Decca coverage would be available to the three major airports in the NYC area:

a) Idlewild Airport (now called John F Kennedy International)
b) LaGuardia Airport
c) Newark Airport

CALIFORNIA  - CHAIN ID ?

The evaluation of the Decca Navigator System by the State of California commenced on Wednesday June 10, 1970. Announced by Joseph R. Crotti, State Director of Aeronautics, a ceremony was held at Van Nuys followed by a briefing of the airborne equipment at Van Nuys Airport. A separate briefing on the marine equipment was held aboard a vessel at Marina del Ray. When the announcement was published in Decca Navigator News, it was referred to the "California Chain".

Ronald Reagan, Governor of California at the time, signs the contract for the California chain in company with members of the state legislature. (From the collection of Walter Blanchard)

The evaluation considered the advantages that the Decca System could provide in California for the navigation of ships, boats, all categories of civil aircraft and the resultant benefits to the general public.

Prior to the start of the evaluation, the system was calibrated by land, sea and air surveys. The sea calibration was carried out aboard the California Department of Fish and Game vessel Albacore. Decca ranges in excess of 200 miles from land provided good position-fixing information by day and night. Among the benefits looked for by the Californian mariner were:

* The ability of small craft to return to and enter harbours with relative safety under conditions of reduced visibility.
* Accurate identification of the position of vessels in distress during search and rescue operations.
* Ability to identify specific areas off shore and to return to such area with reasonable certainty. This is in relation to fishing, underwater obstructions , sunken vessels etc.
* Avoidance of commercial shipping lanes by small craft.

The calibration vessel Albacore. (Image courtesy Decca Navigator News, August 1970)

Within the aeronautical Evaluation Plan, some of the major operational considerations were:

* Reliability of the system, covering both fixed and airborne equipment.
* The convenience of various cockpit displays.
* Pilot training requirements.
* Advantages of Decca at lower altitudes.
* Ability to deviate from and return to course for weather avoidance.
* Use as a primary aid for instrument and low visibility approaches.
* Overall effect on safety.

The system featured an airborne flight log in the form of a cockpit display. It provided the pilot with a pictorial view of his position at all times as a map on a roller moves beneath a stylus. This indicates the present position and plots a record of the track flown.  A smaller model for light aircraft uses cross-hairs focused on the map to indicate position.  These features will help open new low-altitude airspace that is now not useable under low visibility conditions. More efficient use of airspace should relieve airspace congestion.

This was one the aeronautical displays being evaluated during the California trial. (Image courtesy Decca Navigator News August, 1970)

Aircraft and systems taking part in the evaluation:

California State Aircraft ( Beech)  Mk 15
California State Aircraft (Cessna) Mk 25
Two Golden West (Otters) Mk 15
FAA (DC-3) Mk 15
Lestro Air Taxi (Cessna 310) Mk 15
County Fire Department (Ranger Helicopter) Mk 15
 

Shown approximately, are the Stations of the California chain relative to each other.  Master -  Wildomar  Red      -  San Clemente Island.  Green   - El Mirage Purple   - Ranchita / Hellhole Palms (Map courtesy Decca Navigator News, August 1970)

Overlay of Decca stations on Google Maps. (Provided by  Joe Consumer)

NEW ORLEANS - DEMO CHAIN (CHAIN ID ?)

In March 1968, the Decca promotional yacht M.Y. Navigator visited the port of New Orleans to demonstrate Decca Navigator to The Port Authority Marine Operators, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard. The low power demonstration chain was set up in four days and was sited to provide coverage in the Lake Pontchartrain area with the Master at Mandeville, the Green at Slidel and Red just west of the southerly terminus of the  Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. It operated at full accuracy from the moment it was switched on.

With the ensuing demonstrations, Decca tried to instill the idea that Navigator was the best permanent solution for the particular navigational problems which exist in the Gulf Of Mexico. Comments from many of the 170 visitors that observed the operation and performance confirmed that Decca would be of great economic and safety value in the area. In particular, the oil rigs which are not visible at night posed a marine hazard but with an accurate Decca grid laid down over this area, then navigation would be made much safer.

A pernanent New Orleans chain was never built.
 

This map shows the complex delta of the Mississippi River at New Orleans. Not shown here are the numerous offshore drilling rigs which saturate the area thus complicating navigation.  (Map courtesy Google Maps)

The Decca demo chain was located at the sites on the above map. The yellow line is the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway.It only took 4 days to set up this lower power chain. (From Decca Navigator News June 1968. Modified by Jerry Proc)

M.Y. Navigator at New Orleans and in the background is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. In 2012, the Causeway is the 6th longest bridge in the world at 38.442 km (23.88 mi) but still keeps its title as the world's longest continuous bridge over water.  (From Decca Navigator News, June 1968).

GREAT LAKES DEMO CHAIN (Chain ID?)
From Decca Navigator News, February 1968

A demo chain was set up on the south shore of Lake Erie in November 1967 to coincide with the visit of the Decca Sales and Research yacht, Navigator to Cleveland , Ohio.

In bringing a Decca Chain and demonstration vessel to Cleveland, the opportunity was given to interested parties to see at first hand the Decca Navigator System in relation to the specific navigational problems of the Great Lakes region. Eighteen separate demonstration trips were made over a period of one week from the 9th Street Pier at Cleveland. A final total in excess of 150 people saw the system demonstrated.

Each demonstration lasted for about one and a half hours and included a practical demonstration of the Decca Navigator System, its application to traffic routing, traffic reporting and its value to operating economies ensured by more precise navigation and more accurate E.T.A. forecasts. A film was also shown outlining the severe environmental tests of Decca marine products. In addition to this program, Decca radar equipment and Decca Arkas Autopilots were also demonstrated.

The establishment of this Chain with the Red Slave station at Lorain, Ohio, the Master station at Twinsburg, Ohio, and the Green Slave at Geneva, Ohio, was due to the combined efforts of Decca Navigator, London; Decca Systems, Washington D.C.; Decca Survey Systems, Houston, Texas; Decca Radar, New York; Lorain Electronics Corporation, and Computing Devices of Canada. The transmissions from the stations were authorized by the United States Federal Communications Commission for the standard Decca Chain frequency 4 which permitted demonstrations using regular production marine receiving equipment.

Among the many distinguished visitors to board M.Y. Navigator were Rear Admiral Charles Tighe, Commandeer 9th Coast Guard District; Mr. Russell Harder, North Central Division, Corps of Engineers, Chicago; Mr. Oliver T. Burnham, Vice-President Lake Carriers Association; Mr. Riley O'Brien, Fleet Manager Inland Steel Company; Mr. John Manning, Marine Superintendent, The Hanna Mining Company; Mr. John Wedow, President Cleveland Tankers Inc.; Mr. David Buchanan, U.S. Steel Corporation, Great Lakes Fleet and Mr. C. S. Smith, Marine Manager, The Shenango Furnace Company.

The Great lakes area was the first in the world to which marine traffic routing was introduced, and a system of traffic reporting is about to be initiated. To obtain the full benefit of such systems and permit their continuing development to provide the highest standards of safety and efficiency, the best available navigation aids are essential. We believe from discussions with our visitors that it is now generally appreciated that the introduction of the Decca Navigator System into the Great Lakes would be of great benefit to all vessel operators. Deep sea vessels could immediately come under effective control if the Decca System were set up, as about 60% of these vessels already carry the Decca Navigator.

 

All stations in the Lake Erie demo chain were sited in Ohio. It only took 4 days to set up this lower power chain. (From Decca Navigator News, February 1968)

 

---

References and Credits:

1) Decca Navigator News August 1970.
2) Walter Blanchard <wb(at)g3jkv.co.uk >
3) Decca - New Orleans. Decca Navigator News  June 1968
4) Decca - Lake Erie.  Decca Navigator News, February 1968.
5) Joe Consumer <joeconsumer(at)msn.com>

Apr 25/22