Wednesday, August 24, 2011

LORAN-C

LORAN(Long Range Navigation) is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in numerous deployment to determine the location and pace of the receiver.The most recent version of LORAN in use is LORAN-C, which operates in the reduced frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from 90 to 110 Kilohertz. Numerous nations have utilized the program, such as the us, Japan, and a number of European nations. Russia uses a nearly identical system within the same frequency range, called CHAYKA.
 
LORAN use continues to be in steep decline, using the satellite primarily based Global Positioning Program (GPS) being the primary substitute. However, there have been attempts to enhance and re-popularize LORAN, primarily to serve as being a backup and land-based alternative to GPS along with other International navigation satellite system (GNSS) techniques.The present LORAN program has been phased out in the Usa and Canada. The united states Coast Guard (USCG) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) ceased transmitting LORAN-C (and joint CHAYKA) indicators in 2010.
The navigational technique offered by LORAN is dependant on the key with the time distinction in between the receipt of indications from the set of radio transmitters.[6] A offered continuous time distinction in between the indications in the two stations might be symbolized with a hyperbolic type of place (LOP).When the positions with the two synchronized stations are recognized, then your place with the receiver might be established as becoming somewhere on the specific hyperbolic curve exactly where time distinction in between the acquired indications is continuous. In perfect conditions, this really is proportionally equal towards the distinction with the distances in the receiver to every with the two stations.
A LORAN network with only two stations can't offer significantsignificant navigation info because the 2-dimensional place with the receiver can't be fixed due to towards the stage ambiguities within the program and absence of the outdoorsoutdoors stage reference.A second software with the identical principle should be utilized, according to time distinction of the various set of stations. In apply, 1 with the stations within the second pair also might be-and frequently is-in the very first pair. In easy phrases, this suggests indications should be acquired from a minimum of 3 transmitters to target the receiver's place. By identifyingdetermining the intersection with the two hyperbolic curves recognizedrecognized with this technique, a geographic repair might be established.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

(RADAR) Radio Detection and Ranging

           Radar radio detection and ranging is definitely an object-detection system which utilizes electromagnetic waves-specifically radio waves-to figure out the range, altitude, direction, or pace of both moving and fixed objects this kind of as aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor autos, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish, or antenna, transmits pulses of radio waves or microwaves which bounce off any object within their path. The object returns a small part of the wave's energy to a dish or antenna which is generally situated at the same site because the transmitter.The military programs of radar were created in secret in nations across the world during World War II. 
            
             The term RADAR was coined in 1940 by the U.S. Navy as an acronym for radio detection and ranging.The phrase radar has been use in English and other languages as the typical noun radar, losing all capitalization. In the Uk, the technologies was initially known as RDF (range and direction Finder), utilizing the same initials utilized for radio direction finding to hide its ranging capability.The contemporary uses of radar are extremely diverse, such as air visitors manage, radar astronomy, air-defense systems, antimissile techniques; nautical radars to locate landmarks and other ships; aircraft anticollision systems; ocean-surveillance systems, outer-space surveillance and rendezvous systems; meteorological precipitation monitoring; altimetry and flight-control systems; guided-missile target-locating techniques; and ground-penetrating radar for geological observations. High tech radar techniques are associated with digital signal processing and are capable of extracting objects from extremely higher noise levels.Other systems comparable to radar have already been utilized in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. One example is "lidar", which utilizes visible mild from lasers rather than radio waves.A radar program has a transmitter that emits radio waves known as radar indicators in predetermined instructions. When these arrive into contact with an object they are usually reflected and/or scattered in lots of instructions

              Radar signals are reflected particularly well by supplies of substantial electrical conductivity-especially by most metals, by seawater, by wet land, and by wetlands. Some of these make the use of radar altimeters feasible. The radar signals which are mirrored back again in the direction of the transmitter are the desirable ones that make radar function. When the object is shifting either nearer or farther away, there is a slight alter within the frequency with the radio waves, because of the Doppler impact.Radar receivers are often, but not usually, within the exact same location as the transmitter. Although the mirrored radar indicators captured through the getting antenna are often very weak, these signals can be strengthened by the electronic amplifiers that all radar sets include. Much more advanced methods of signal processing are also nearly usually used to be able to recuperate useful radar indicators.The weak absorption of radio waves by the medium through which it passes is what allows radar sets to detect objects at relatively-long ranges-ranges at which other electromagnetic wavelengths, such as visible mild, infrared mild, and ultraviolet mild, are too strongly attenuated. Such things as fog, clouds, rain, falling snow, and sleet that block visible mild are usually transparent to radio waves. Certain, particular radio frequencies which are absorbed or scattered by water vapor, raindrops, or atmospheric gases (especially oxygen) are prevented in creating radars other than when detection of those is meant.Lastly, radar relies on its own transmissions, rather than light from the Sun or the Moon, or from electromagnetic waves emitted by the objects themselves, this kind of as infrared wavelengths (heat). This process of directing artificial radio waves in the direction of objects is called illumination, no matter the fact that radio waves are completely invisible towards the human eye or cameras.

Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN)

A tactical air navigation technique, generally referred to through the acronym TACAN, is actually a navigation method used by military aircraft. It provides the person with bearing and distance (slant-range) into a ground or ship-borne station. It is just a much more precise model with the VOR/DME technique that gives bearing and variety data for civil aviation. The DME portion from the TACAN method is available for civil use; at VORTAC amenities wherever a VOR is combined with a TACAN, civil plane can receive VOR/DME readings. Aircraft equipped with TACAN avionics can use this system for enroute navigation too as non-precision approaches to landing fields. The room shuttle is one such automobile which was built to use TACAN navigation[citation needed despite the fact that it has since been upgraded with GPS like a substitute. The common TACAN onboard consumer panel has handle switches for setting the channel, the operation mode for both Transmit/Receive (T/R, to have both bearing and array) or Receive Only (REC, to acquire bearing although not assortment). Capability was later upgraded to incorporate an Air-to-Air mode (A/A) where two airborne customers can get relative slant-range information. Based on the installation, Air-to-Air mode could supply assortment, closure (relative velocity with the other unit), and bearing,  however an air-to-air bearing is noticeably less precise than a ground-to-air bearing.TACAN on the whole might be described as the army edition from the VOR/DME method. It operates from the frequency band 960-1215 MHz. The bearing unit of TACAN is much more correct than a standard VOR since it makes usage of a two frequency principle, with 15 Hz and 135 Hz parts.The gap measurement part of TACAN operates with all the identical specifications as civil DMEs. Therefore to cut back the quantity of necessary stations, TACAN stations are often co-located with VOR services. These co-located stations are known as VORTACs. This is a station composed of a VOR for civil bearing information along with a TACAN for army bearing information and military/civil length measuring information. The TACAN transponder performs the operate of the DME with no the require to get a separate, co-located DME. As the rotation of the antenna produces a big portion in the azimuth signal, should the antenna fails, the azimuth component is no longer obtainable as well as the TACAN downgrades to a DME only mode.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Remote Maintenance Monitoring

The Remote Maintenance and Monitoring Configuration (RMMC) is used for remote monitoring, operation and maintenance of all the connected navigation systems. The network has a radially configured architecture based on communication between the system components via switched or private lines in the public network and dedicated lines in private networks. Optionally a connection to a LAN via Ethernet line is possible.The remote control instruments allow all the networked navigation systems to be operated optionally from central points, from normal operation of the dual systems with automatic changeover in the event of a fault through manual operation to measurement and setting of all the possible signal parameters, as well as detailed fault analyses on the basis of a wide range of measured values. They facilitate new maintenance strategies, whereby primary importance is placed on concentrating logistics and qualified personnel, and then on responding to specific failures with systematic maintenance activities rather than relying on periodic precautionary measures. This considerably improves both maintenance efficiency and the economic efficiency of the systems throughout their service life.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Glidepath

Glide slope / Glide Path
Is a portion of the ILS that provides the pilot with vertical guidance to the touchdown point of the runway. The GP generates an RF−Signal at frequency range of 328 to 336 MHz and is amplitude modulated with 90 and 150 Hz. The transmitter of GP can be a 2F system or 1F system and both produce 5 W of power. The glide path signal is receivable up to a distance of 10 nautical miles within an azimuthal sector of ±8°relative to the localizer course line with the touch down point as reference and between the elevations 0.30 to 1.75 nominal glide path angle.The GP antenna is installed approximately 286 to 344 m beyond the runway threshold and 120 to180m from the runway centre line. An optional nearfield dipole is installed in the GP radiation sector for monitoring the course position of the GP signal. The position of the dipole depends on the type of installation and on the local conditions as regards the glide angle. The GP transmitter shelter is installed in the vicinity of the GP antenna.


Glidepath or Glideslope also radiates two modulating signal, the 90Hz and 150 Hz. Above the path angle 90Hz is predominant than 150Hz. Below, the 150Hz is predominant than 90Hz, and at path angle the two are equal.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

LOCALIZER

LOCALIZER
 
Localizer is a part of ILS that provides the pilot with horizontal guidance towards the airport runway center line.
Operating Frequency Band
  108 – 111.975 MHz
Modulation Frequency
  90 Hz and 150 Hz
DDM
  20% (90 Hz and 150 Hz) Nominal
  18% - 21% allowed for Cat. I and Cat. II
  19% - 21% allowed for  Cat. III
Voice Modulation
  Optional
Identification Signal
  1020 Hz with 5% - 15% Modulation
  keyed 2 – 3 Characters of International Morse Code (audio of 1020 Hz) e.g. I-CIA
Monitoring
  Automatic Monitoring System to designated control locations.



Localizer radiates two modulating signals 150Hz and 90Hz. It produce a predominance of 150Hz to the right of the runway centerline as seen by the aircraft and a predominance of 90Hz modulated RF to the left of runway centerline. At centerline the two modulated RF are equal.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Defective Associated Facility Interface (AFI) module of DME

The AFI module is used as interface between the DME ground beacon and an associated VHF equipment to make the emission of the identity code expressed in international Morse code synchronous.This module allows the identification signals to be correctly exchanged between the DME and associated equipment (e.g. VOR, ILS, and MLS equipment). If any, as far as the identity code and the status signals are concerned.


 figure of Defective AFI


We experienced this trouble when the DME equipment shuts down on both system. We checked the system and it found that AFI is defective because of burned out module and LED's in front doesnt blinking at all. The remedy is only buying a new module since all individual components of AFI are surface mounted.



Saturday, August 13, 2011

DVOR Trouble

Last year we encountered a DVOR problem in which the Nearfield position RF level is too low that caused an alarm on our two monitors. It shutdowns both system of DVOR. We bypassed the two monitors and check the actual RF level by using a DVOR portable receiver. All the actual reading of data in aerial is the same as per recorded normally in our logbook. We concluded that the equipment is operating normally and the problem is in the monitor dipole section.Through analysis and at the same time reading the equipment manual we decided to troubleshoot at the dipole section of the DVOR. We loosened and tightened back the transmission cable and clean all connectors for possible contamination of rust. The problem still existed, and we then checked the 3dB attenuator if its the caused of the problem. We found available attenuator and changed the existing one and still the problem is just the same. After all the possibility we decided to focused on antenna itself. We brought down the antenna of monitor and we found out that it had made by ants as its habitat and all its holes were contaminated with dirt's. We disassembled the antenna and by used of pressure washer we cleaned thoroughly all the contamination.After cleaning we assembled again the antenna and brought up and all data on RF nearfield level goes back again into normal state.

        figure of Antenna  monitor dipole

Friday, August 5, 2011

Distance Measuring Equipment DME

DME


DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) is a radio aid for short and medium distance navigation. It can allows 100 aircrafts simultaneously to measure their distance from a ground reference (DME transponder). The distance is determined by measuring the propagation delay of a gaussian pulse, which is emitted by the aircraft transmitter and returned by the ground station after reception.DME operates in the frequency range of(960 to 1215 MHz).
Aircraft's airborne interrogator transmit encoded interrogating  pulse pairs on the ground station. The DME station in turn, transmits encoded reply pulse pairs on the air-borne equipment, The real distance information is the time interval between interrogation emission and reply reception. Aircraft's equipped with DME transmit encoded interrogating RF pulse pairs about the beacon's obtaining channel. The beacon, consequently, emits encoded reply pulse pairs about the receiving channel with the air-borne tools, that is 63 MHz apart from the transmitter frequency former.
Time interval among interrogation emission and reply reception provides the aircraft with all the real
distance data through the ground station; this info could be go through from the pilot or even the navigator straight around the airborne indicator. The ground transponder is capable to reply approximately about 200 interrogators at a time (i.e. 4800 pulse pairs/s). Generates random pulse pairs ("squitter") to take care of a minimum PRF of 800 to 2700 pulse pairs per
2nd (programmable) whenever the amount of decoded interrogations is decrease than that.
This reply is
obtained and decoded by the airborne receiver, where unique timing circuits automatically measure the lapse between interrogation and reply and convert this measurement into electrical output indicators. The beacon introduces a fixed delay, known as reply delay, among the reception of each encoded interrogating pulse pair and also the transmission of the corresponding reply.