Tacan

British  

/ ˈtækən /

noun

1. an electronic ultrahigh-frequency navigation system for aircraft which gives a continuous indication of bearing and distance from a transmitting station

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Etymology

Origin of Tacan

C20: tac ( tical ) a ( ir ) n ( avigation )

Example Sentences

The park’s owner is planning to expand the campground, but archivists and Vince Tacan, chief of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, oppose it.

From Washington Post

Thus, while most commercial pilots rely on Omni for bearing, they find neither DME nor Tacan in their cockpits.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week the House Commerce Committee, after reviewing the controversy and the still-secret development of Tacan, turned up a shocking note: since 1948 the Navy and Air Force have spent $176 million to develop Tacan, but they candidly admit that it is still full of bugs.

From Time Magazine Archive

And Under Secretary of Commerce Louis Rothschild testified that Tacan is three to ten years from being perfected.

From Time Magazine Archive

Omni-DME is slightly more accurate for distance; Tacan is slightly better on direction.

From Time Magazine Archive