NAVIGATION EQUIPMENTS IN
AIRCRAFT
STUDY ON VARIOUS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
HOLLINS J JOHN, U19AU21S0035
What is Air Navigation?
The need of the system
Taking an aircraft from starting point to
the desired destination while never
losing control,getting lost,violating
regulations governing aircraft operations
or putting people on board and the
ground at risk.
The Basic Principles of Navigation
Planning of routes
Recording the movement of aircraft
Controlling the traffic
The list of
navigation
equipment’s
1.Automatic Direction Finder
2.VHF Omni Range
3.Instrument Landing System
4.Global Positioning Systems
Automatic Direction Finder
The radio compass
Determines the direction of a non
directional radio beacon (NDB) relative
to an aircraft’s position.
Provides aviators with real time bearing
information displayed on a cockpit
instrument .
Frequency Range of ADF : 90kHz to
1800kHz.
Frequency Range of NDB : 200kHz to
415kHz
1. Sense Antenna and Loop Antenna:
ADF systems typically consist of two antennas – a sense antenna and a loop antenna.
The sense antenna receives signals equally from all directions, while the loop antenna allows the pilot
to determine the direction from which the signal is coming.
1. Radio Signal Reception:
An Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) operates by receiving radio signals transmitted by ground-
based navigational beacons or other aircraft equipped with a compatible transmitter.
1. Magnetic Compass Heading:
The ADF determines the direction of the received signal relative to the aircraft’s magnetic compass
heading.
This is crucial for navigation as it provides a bearing to the transmitting station or beacon.
1. ADF Instrument Display:
The ADF instrument displays the bearing to the station or
beacon relative to the aircraft’s nose using a rotating
compass card or a fixed card with a movable needle.
Pilots interpret this information to navigate along the
desired course.
1. ADF Needle Deflection:
When the aircraft is on course, the ADF needle aligns
with the aircraft’s heading indicator.
However, when the aircraft deviates from the desired
course, the ADF needle deflects, indicating the direction
the aircraft needs to turn to return to the desired track.
VHF Omni Range
Azimuth Information
Provides azimuth information and are used
during en-route phase of flight
The signal received from the ground based
VOR station allows the airborne equipment
to determine the bearing from the station to
the aircraft.
That is , the direction of the aircraft from
the VOR station in relation to the magnetic
north.
Frequency Range of VOR :108.00 to 117.95
MHz
Radio Frequency Modulation:
Phase Comparison:
Omni-directional Coverage:
Course Selection
VOR Instrument Display
INSTRUMENT
LANDING
SYSTEMS
INCLUDES MARKER
BEACON , GLIDE-SCOPE
AND LOCALISER.
Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a ground-based
navigation aid for aircraft approach and landing in adverse
weather.
Consists of localizer, glide slope, and marker beacons.
Localizer provides lateral guidance, keeping aircraft aligned
with the runway centreline.
Glide slope offers vertical guidance for correct descent path.
Marker beacons indicate specific points along the approach
path.
Operates on specific radio frequencies, requiring specialised
equipment on aircraft and ground.
Provides precise guidance for safe landings in low visibility.
Widely used in commercial aviation for improved landing
accuracy and safety.
Marker Beacon
Marker beacons are ground-based radio beacons used in
aviation for distance indication during landing approaches.
They typically consist of three types: outer marker,
middle marker, and inner marker.
Outer marker indicates the final approach fix, middle
marker marks glide slope interception, and inner marker
signifies decision height.
Pilots receive Morse code signals from marker beacons,
each type emitting a distinct signal pattern.
Signals are received by the aircraft’s marker beacon
receiver and interpreted on cockpit instruments or audio
panels.
Marker beacons enhance safety by providing critical
distance information, aiding pilots during landing
approaches, especially in low visibility conditions.
Localiser
The localizer is a component of the
Instrument Landing System (ILS) that
provides lateral guidance for aircraft during
the approach and landing phase.
It ensures that the aircraft remains aligned
with the centreline of the runway.
The localizer emits a radio signal that
provides course guidance to the pilot,
indicating whether the aircraft is left or right
of the runway centreline.
Working Principle: The localizer operates on a specific radio frequency
and uses a highly directional antenna system to create a signal that
forms a narrow beam along the runway centreline.
Pilots monitor the localizer deviation indicator on their cockpit
instruments to maintain alignment with the runway centreline.
Localizers are typically located at the far end of the runway,
transmitting signals in the direction of approach.
Aircraft equipped with ILS receivers capture and interpret the localizer
signal to guide the aircraft’s lateral alignment.
GLIDE-SCOPE
Glide Slope (GS) is a component of the
Instrument Landing System (ILS) providing
vertical guidance.
It assists pilots in maintaining the correct
descent path toward the runway threshold.
GS emits a radio signal indicating the aircraft’s
altitude relative to the desired glide path.
Installed beside the runway, GS transmitter
emits signals upward to create a glide path.
Working Principle: Generates signal at a
specific angle relative to the horizontal plane
for descent guidance.
Pilots monitor Glide Slope deviation indicator
to ensure proper descent angle for landing.
Global Positioning Systems
Satellite signals received
Trilateration calculates distances
Position determined in 3D
Integrated into avionics for
navigation
GPS Receiver: Receives signals from
GPS satellites to determine the aircraft’s
position, velocity, and time.
Antenna: Collects GPS signals from
satellites and transmits them to the receiver
for processing.
Inertial Navigation System (INS):
Often integrated with GPS for more
accurate positioning, especially during
temporary GPS signal loss.
Flight Management System (FMS):
Utilises GPS data to assist in flight
planning, navigation, and autopilot control.
Cockpit Display: Displays the aircraft’s
position, flight path, waypoints, and other
navigation information to the pilots.
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