Aircraft Communications and Navigation Systems, 2nd Ed

Introducing the principles of communications and navigation systems, this book is written for anyone pursuing a career in aircraft maintenance engineering or a related aerospace engineering discipline, and in particular will be suitable for those studying for licensed aircraft maintenance engineer status. It systematically addresses the relevant sections (Air Transport Association of America chapters 23/34) of modules 11 and 13 of part-66 of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) syllabus and is ideal for anyone studying as part of an EASA and FAR-147-approved course in aerospace engineering. Delivers the essential principles and knowledge base required by Airframe and Propulsion (A&P) Mechanics for Modules 11 and 13 of the EASA Part-66 syllabus and BTEC National awards in aerospace engineering Supports mechanics, technicians and engineers studying for a Part-66 qualification Comprehensive and accessible, with self-test questions, exercises and multiple choice questions to enhance learning for both independent and tutor-assisted study Additional resources and interactive materials are available at the book's companion website at www.66web.co.uk Cover 1 Abstract 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Preface 12 Chapter 1 Introduction 18 1.1 The radio frequency spectrum 18 1.2 Electromagnetic waves 20 1.3 Frequency and wavelength 21 1.4 The atmosphere 22 1.5 Radio wave propagation 22 1.6 The ionosphere 25 1.7 MUF and LUF 25 1.8 Silent zone and skip distance 29 1.9 Space weather 30 1.10 Satellite communications (SATCOM) 33 1.11 Communication systems integration and management 36 1.12 Multiple choice questions 39 Chapter 2 Antennas 42 2.1 The isotropic radiator 42 2.2 The half-wave dipole 43 2.3 Impedance and radiation resistance 45 2.4 Radiated power and efficiency 46 2.5 Antenna gain 46 2.6 The Yagi beam antenna 47 2.7 Directional characteristics 49 2.8 Other practical antennas 51 2.9 Feeders 55 2.10 Connectors 59 2.11 Standing wave ratio 60 2.12 Waveguide 65 2.13 Multiple choice questions 66 Chapter 3 Transmitters and receivers 68 3.1 A simple radio system 68 3.2 Modulation and demodulation 69 3.3 AM transmitters 70 3.4 FM transmitters 71 3.5 Tuned radio frequency receivers 72 3.6 Superhet receivers 73 3.7 Selectivity 74 3.8 Image channel rejection 77 3.9 Automatic gain control 78 3.10 Double superhet receivers 78 3.11 Digital frequency synthesis 80 3.12 A design example 82 3.13 Multiple choice questions 86 Chapter 4 VHF communications 88 4.1 VHF range and propagation 88 4.2 DSB modulation 89 4.3 Channel spacing 90 4.4 Depth of modulation 90 4.5 Compression 91 4.6 Squelch 92 4.7 Data modes 92 4.8 ACARS 95 4.9 VHF radio equipment 97 4.10 Multiple choice questions 99 Chapter 5 HF communications 101 5.1 HF range and propagation 101 5.2 SSB modulation 102 5.3 SELCAL 104 5.4 HF datalink 104 5.5 HF radio equipment 108 5.6 HF antennas and coupling units 109 5.7 Multiple choice questions 112 Chapter 6 Flight-deck audio systems 114 6.1 Flight interphone system 114 6.2 Cockpit voice recorder 119 6.3 Multiple choice questions 121 Chapter 7 Emergency locator transmitters 123 7.1 Types of ELT 123 7.2 Maintenance and testing of ELT 124 7.3 ELT mounting requirements 125 7.4 Typical ELT 127 7.5 Cospas–Sarsat satellites 128 7.6 Multiple choice questions 130 Chapter 8 Aircraft navigation 131 8.1 The earth and navigation 131 8.2 Dead reckoning 135 8.3 Position fixing 136 8.4 Maps and charts 136 8.5 Navigation terminology 137 8.6 Navigation systems development 137 8.7 Navigation systems summary 147 8.8 Multiple choice questions 148 Chapter 9 Automatic direction finder 150 9.1 Introducing ADF 150 9.2 ADF principles 150 9.3 ADF equipment 151 9.4 Operational aspects of ADF 157 9.5 ADF homing 158 9.6 Multiple choice questions 159 Chapter 10 VHF omnidirectional range 161 10.1 VOR principles 161 10.2 Airborne VOR equipment 165 10.3 Operational aspects of VOR 170 10.4 VOR navigation display scenarios 173 10.5 Multiple choice questions 175 Chapter 11 Distance measuring equipment 177 11.1 Radar principles 177 11.2 DME overview 178 11.3 DME operation 179 11.4 Equipment overview 179 11.5 En route navigation using radio navigation aids 181 11.6 Multiple choice questions 185 Chapter 12 Instrument landing system 187 12.1 ILS overview 187 12.2 ILS ground equipment 187 12.3 ILS airborne equipment 191 12.4 Low range radio altimeter 195 12.5 ILS approach 195 12.6 Autoland 196 12.7 Operational aspects of the ILS 198 12.8 Multiple choice questions 199 Chapter 13 Microwave landing system 200 13.1 MLS overview 200 13.2 MLS principles 200 13.3 Aircraft equipment 203 13.4 Ground equipment 205 13.5 MLS summary 205 13.6 Multiple choice questions 206 Chapter 14 Hyperbolic radio navigation 208 14.1 Hyperbolic position fixing 208 14.2 Loran overview 210 14.3 Loran-C operation 210 14.4 Loran-C ground equipment 212 14.5 Loran-C airborne equipment 213 14.6 Enhanced Loran 214 14.7 Multiple choice questions 215 Chapter 15 Doppler navigation 216 15.1 The Doppler effect 216 15.2 Doppler navigation principles 216 15.3 Airborne equipment overview 220 15.4 Typical Doppler installations 221 15.5 Doppler summary 221 15.6 Other Doppler applications 222 15.7 Multiple choice questions 223 Chapter 16 Area navigation 224 16.1 RNAV overview 224 16.2 RNAV equipment 228 16.3 Kalman filters 234 16.4 Required navigation performance 236 16.5 PBN system errors 237 16.6 Multiple choice questions 238 Chapter 17 Inertial navigation systems 240 17.1 Inertial navigation principles 240 17.2 System overview 243 17.3 System description 243 17.4 Alignment process 250 17.5 Inertial navigation accuracy 253 17.6 Inertial navigation summary 253 17.7 System integration 253 17.8 Multiple choice questions 254 Chapter 18 Global navigation satellite systems 256 18.1 GPS overview 256 18.2 Principles of wave propagation 256 18.3 Satellite navigation principles 256 18.4 GPS segments 257 18.5 GPS signals 260 18.6 GNSS Operation 260 18.7 GNSS evolution 262 18.8 GNSS augmentation 262 18.9 GNSS – The future 264 18.10 Multiple choice questions 265 Chapter 19 Flight management systems 267 19.1 FMS overview 267 19.2 Flight management computer system 267 19.3 System initialisation 270 19.4 FMCS operation 272 19.5 General Aviation FMS 276 19.6 FMS summary 278 19.7 Multiple choice questions 278 Chapter 20 Weather radar 280 20.1 System overview 280 20.2 Airborne equipment 281 20.3 Precipitation and turbulence 284 20.4 System enhancements 292 20.5 Lightning detection 292 20.6 Datalink weather 293 20.7 Multiple choice questions 294 Chapter 21 Air traffic control systems 295 21.1 ATC overview 295 21.2 ATC transponder modes 296 21.3 Airborne equipment 297 21.4 System operation 300 21.5 Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast 309 21.6 Communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management 311 21.7 Single European Sky 314 21.8 Future air navigation systems (FANS) 314 21.9 Multiple choice questions 315 Chapter 22 Traffic alert and collision avoidance systems 316 22.1 Airborne collisions avoidance systems (ACAS) 316 22.2 TCAS overview 317 22.3 TCAS equipment 320 22.4 System operation 322 22.5 ADS-B traffic displays 327 22.6 Traffic advisory systems (TAS) 328 22.7 FLARM® 328 22.8 Multiple choice questions 329 Appendices 331 1 Abbreviations and acronyms 331 2 Revision papers 338 3 Answers to multiple choice questions 344 4 Decibels 350 Index 352 "Introducing the principles of communications and navigation systems, this book is written for anyone pursuing a career in aircraft maintenance engineering or a related aerospace engineering discipline, and in particular will be suitable for those studying for licensed aircraft maintenance engineer status. It systematically addresses the relevant sections (ATA chapters 23/34) of modules 11 and 13 of part-66 of the EASA syllabus, and is ideal for anyone studying as part of an EASA and FAR-147 approved course in aerospace engineering. Delivers the essential principles and knowledge base required by Airframe and Propulsion (A & P) Mechanics for Modules 11 and 13 of the EASA Part-66 syllabus and BTEC National awards in aerospace engineeringSupports Mechanics, Technicians and Engineers studying for a Part-66 qualificationComprehensive and accessible, with self-test questions, exercises and multiple choice questions to enhance learning for both independent and tutor-assisted studyAdditional resources and interactive materials are available at the book's companion website at www.66web.co.uk "--Provided by publisher