AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) RADAR BEACON
SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION:
The ATC system contains Airborne Components controlled by Ground
Facilities to identify the Flight Number and Altitude of the Airplane. In
addition, the Ground Facilities monitor the Airplane’s Location and
Direction of Travel. The Power Requirement Is 115V AC. Transmit
Frequency is 1090+3MHz and Receive Frequency is 1030+0.2MHz.
The Airborne Equipment consists of a Transponder (Receiver-Transmitter),
a Control Unit, an Antenna, and a Digitizer.
The Ground Based equipment consists of a Primary Radar System and a
Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) System.
The Primary Radar System consists of an Antenna, a Receiver-Transmitter
(RT) and an Indicator. The Primary Radar System works like other Radar
System. A narrow RF type beam, transmitted through a rotating Antenna,
is reflected by any targets in its path and returned to the Antenna. By
calculating the elapsed time between transmission and reception of the RF
beam, the distance to the target is determined. This information is
displayed on the Two Dimensional Radar Screens.
The SSR system consists of an antenna, a Receiver-Transmitter (RT), and
the Necessary Interface and Control Equipment for the ground station. The
SSR system is used to separate aircraft by altitude. The SSR system uses an
Antenna that is mounted directly to the Primary Radar Antenna and pointed
in the same direction or synchronized with the same rotation as the Primary
Radar. This system interrogates the aircraft about its identity and altitude
by transmitting two sets of pulses.
TRANSPONDER:
The Airborne Transponder is an important part of the Air Traffic Control
System. The safety of passengers, aircraft and the crew members depends
on the ability of the air traffic controllers to accurately identify and locate
aircraft within controlled airspace.
A Transponder is the Airborne Receiver-Transmitter (RT) portion of the
ATC Radar Beacon System that sends an identifying coded signal, in
response to a transmitted interrogation from a ground-based radar station,
in order to locate and identify the aircraft.
Air Traffic Controllers use the coded identification replies of transponders
to differentiate between the aircrafts displayed on their radar screens. This
aids the controller in maintaining aircraft separation, collision avoidance,
and distinguishing types of aircraft.
RECEIVER-TRANSMITTER (RT): The Receiver portion of the
Transponder contains the necessary circuitry to Receive, Demodulate,
Amplify, and Decode the Interrogation Signal. The Transmitter portion of the
Transponder contains the necessary circuitry to Encode, Modulate, Amplify,
and Transmit the coded reply signal. The Transponder also contains the
circuitry required for checking the validity of the received interrogation signal
and monitoring the integrity of the Transponder.
CONTROL UNIT: The control unit contains the circuits and controls
necessary to select the identifying codes. It also contains the controls necessary
for selecting an altitude source, initiating self test condition, and selecting the
transponder reply mode.
DIGITIZER: The digitizer is a simple converter that converts an Analog
Signal, representing Barometric Altitude, to a Digital Format. The digitized
barometric altitude can then be encoded and transmitted as a part of the reply
signal.
ANTENNA: The Antenna is a Monopoly Blade Type Antenna. The antenna
is usually mounted in an area of the aircraft that will not be shielded from the
interrogation. This prevents the aircraft’s identification from disappearing from
the controller’s radar screen.
OPERATION:
The Pilot selects an identification code from the Air Traffic Controller.
The SSR system transmits a coded interrogation signal as the Primary
Radar System detects the aircraft.
The interrogation signal is received, detected and decoded by the Airborne
Transponder.
The Transponder then encodes and transmits a set of reply signals.
The reply signal is then received, decoded and displayed at the ATC
ground station screen.
