AMTE 229

AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATION &

NAVIGATION SYSTEM
INSTR: MR. GLEN EMANUEL T. GUMTANG
 OBJECTIVE:
In this subject, the students will be able to learn and
understand the role and functions of the ATC, basic
knowledge about radio communication and understand
aviation phrases/terminologies and basic knowledge
about navigational system.
 INTRODUCTION
Maintaining the safety of the flight is your number one
priority.
There are some safety issues which you must be aware of
during every flight, such as collision avoidance and
maintaining minimum safe altitudes and some safety
considerations only apply in certain situations such as
run-up and taxi.
Every flight is different and you need to consider the
factors which can affect your flight and take the
appropriate actions to ensure safety.
 IN ADDITION
Even if misunderstandings do occur, they are rather easily
dealt with since both parties engaged in the conversation
know what replies to expect from each other.
Problems arise in non-routine and emergency situations,
when person in command and controllers have to resort to
plain English because the phraseology lacks the
communicative means for effective communication in
unpredictable situations such as on board medical
emergencies, engine problems, fuel shortage or terrorism.
When both parties stick to the rules prescribed, problems in
communication will rarely occur. First of all, good
transmitting technique is needed.
 O V E R V I E W

history
atc
functions of atc
radio communications
definition of terms
radio techniques
 H I S T O R Y
Twenty seven hours after Charles Lindbergh took off in The Spirit of St. Louis
from New York’s Curtiss Field, he spotted several fishing boats.
When a fisherman appeared at a porthole of the first boat, Lindbergh circled
low, closed down the throttle, leaned out the window, and shouted,
“Which way is Ireland”
If today's extensive radar and communication network had been in operation
during the golden age of aviation, Lindbergh would have had a much better
chance of pinpointing his position.
For example, ATC facilities monitoring The Spirit of St. Louis on their radar
screens could have instantly replied to a radio inquiry. Today, “Which way is
Ireland” would sound out of place transmitted over an aircraft radio. To
make communication with ATC as effective as possible, specific radio
procedures and terminology have been developed. Nearly any service you
obtain during flight requires radio contact, so you need to learn this
unique way of communication
CHARLES LINDBERGH
 Began in the early 1930’s with only one rule, “see and be seen”,
The first air traffic controller at Missouri airport, Archie W. Leage in 1929.
Colored flags were soon replaced by light guns.
Radar was developed during World War II enabling controllers to point
out exact location of the aircrafts.
 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC)
Is a service provided by Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) to promote safe, orderly and
expeditious flow of traffic

Functions:

Prevent collisions between the aircraft whose

pilots chose to participate in the ATC service

Organize and expedite the safe and orderly flow of

traffic, utilizing the airspace as effectively as
possible
VHF COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT
 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: RADIO
COMMUNICATIOS

VHF Communications Equipment –2 way radio that uses a portion of

the very high frequency (VHF) range.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: RADIO
COMMUNICATIOS

2 way radio also know as "transceiver",

it is capable of transmitting and
receiving radio communications
The frequency range for communication is 118.0- 135.1975
in the unit of megahertz (MHz)

comms
nav

Communication
118.0-135.1975
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: RADIO
COMMUNICATIOS

Consists of a transceiver and VHF antenna

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: RADIO
COMMUNICATIOS

Transmission is limited only to “line of sight”

 INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
ORGANIZATION (ICAO)

A specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil

Aviation Organization (ICAO)was created in 1944 to promote the
safe and orderly development of international civil aviation
throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations
necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity,
as well as for aviation environmental protection.
COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME
(UTC)

An international standard time that is also

used in aviation.
Expressed in 24-hour system
Reference point is 0 longitude which passes
through Greenwich, England
COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME (UTC)
AUTOMATIC INFORMATION TERMINAL SERVICE
(ATIS)
Atis is a continuous broadcast of recorded information for arriving
and departing aircraft.
Current weather at the airport including ceiling, visibility, wind
alteration setting
Type of instrument approach and runway in used
Excerpts from NOTAM regarding the serviceability of pertinent aids to
navigation and full condition
 PHONETIC ALPHABET

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has

adopted a phonetic alphabet, which should be used in radio

communications.

When communicating with ATC, pilots should use this alphabet

to identify their aircraft.

 LOST COMMUNICATION
PROCEDURES
It is possible that a pilot might experience a malfunction of

the radio. This might cause the transmitter, receiver, or both

to become inoperative.

The pilot should continue, enter the pattern, report a

position as appropriate, and watch for light signals from the

tower.

Light signal colors and their meanings are contained in

 LOST COMMUNICATION
PROCEDURES
It is possible that a pilot might experience a malfunction of

the radio. This might cause the transmitter, receiver, or both

to become inoperative.

The pilot should continue, enter the pattern, report a

position as appropriate, and watch for light signals from the

tower.

Light signal colors and their meanings are contained in

PROCEDURE FOR TRANSMITTER
BECOMES INOPERATIVE
If the transmitter becomes inoperative, a pilot should follow

the previously stated procedures and also monitor the

appropriate air traffic control frequency.

During daylight hours air traffic control transmissions may

be acknowledged by rocking the wings, and at night by

blinking the landing light.

PROCEDURE FOR TRANSMITTER
BECOMES INOPERATIVE
If a receiver becomes inoperative and a pilot needs to land at

a controlled airport, it is advisable to remain outside or

above Class D airspace until the direction and flow of traffic

is determined.

A pilot should then advise the tower of the aircraft type,

position, altitude, and intention to land. The pilot should

continue, enter the pattern, report a position as appropriate,

and watch for light signals from the tower.

PROCEDURE FOR BOTH RECEIVER
AND TRANSMITTER ARE
INOPERATIVE

When both receiver and transmitter are inoperative, the

pilot should remain outside of Class D airspace until the

flow of traffic has been determined and then enter the

pattern and watch for light signals.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES

Besides the services provided by an FSS

Aviation Weather Services, numerous other services are

provided by ATC.

In many instances a pilot is required to have contact with ATC,

but even when not required, a pilot finds it helpful to request

their services.
 RADAR
Radar is a device which provides information on range, and/or

elevation of objects in the path of the transmitted pulses.

It measures the time interval between transmission and

reception of radio pulses and correlates the angular

orientation of the radiated antenna beam or beams in

elevation.

Range is determined by measuring the time it takes for the radio

wave to go out to the object and then return to the receiving

antenna.
ATC RADAR BEACON SYSTEM
(ATCRBS)
The ATC radar beacon system (ATCRBS) is often referred to as

“secondary surveillance radar.”

This system consists of three components and helps in alleviating

some of the limitations associated with primary radar.

The three components are an interrogator, transponder, and

radarscope.

The advantages of ATCRBS are the reinforcement of radar targets,

rapid target identification, and a unique display of selected codes.

ATC RADAR BEACON SYSTEM
(ATCRBS)
 TRANSPONDER

The transponder is the airborne portion of

the secondary surveillance radar system

and a system with which a pilot should be

familiar.

The ATCRBS cannot display the secondary

information unless an aircraft is equipped

with a transponder.
 RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES
Radar equipped ATC facilities provide radar assistance to aircraft on

instrument flight plans and VFR aircraft provided the aircraft can

communicate with the facility and are within radar coverage.

This basic service includes safety alerts, traffic advisories, limited

vectoring when requested, and sequencing at locations where this

procedure has been established.

ATC issues traffic advisories based on observed radar targets.

The traffic is referenced by azimuth from the aircraft in terms of the 12-

hour clock
 This service is not intended to relieve the pilot of the responsibility to see and

avoid other aircraft.

Traffic information would be issued to the pilot of aircraft “A” as 12 o’clock.

The actual position of the traffic as seen by the pilot of aircraft “A” would be 1

o’clock.

Traffic information issued to aircraft “B” would also be given as 12 o’clock, but in

this case the pilot of “B” would see traffic at 10 o’clock.

 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
Control Tower – Controls all airborne traffic within a specified

airport area. (10 miles radius and 3000ft altitude)

Ground Control – Segment of ATC that is responsible for the

separation of traffic moving on the airport surface

 Ramp Control – Expedites and maintain orderly movement of the

aircraft from apron to taxiway gates or vice versa

Departure and Approach Control – Provide traffic through the use

of radar and are most commonly used for IFR operations. sometimes

located separately from the tower.

 TWO TYPES OF
COMMUNICATION
 UNICOM – a privately operated frequency where in you can get

advisory information and also request other information services

MULTICOM – frequency that provides aircraft in the area to use for

air-to-air communication.
 Emergency Frequency:

The assigned international emergency is 121.5 MHz

Mayday (3x) - Urgency

Pan-Pan (3x) – Distress

 Emergency Transponder codes:

7500 – Hijack

7600 – No Radio

7700 – General Emergency

Role of the transponder

You may be given a code to verify your position

Unable to communicate, set to 7700 to alarm emergency for 1minute, the switch to 7600 for 15 minutes

That signal will be used by search and rescue personel

1200 for Civilian VFR sqwak code