Airway Designators and Positioning Methods
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Questions and Answers

TACAN equipment on an aircraft transmits a coded signal to a ground station.

True (A)

The ground TACAN station calculates the distance between the aircraft and the station.

False (B)

TACAN systems provide pilots with both bearing and distance information.

True (A)

The CAA recommended TACAN as the civilian navigation standard.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

VOR-DME receivers were more expensive than TACAN equipment.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The CAA believed that VOR-DME was more flexible than TACAN because the equipment could be purchased separately.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

TACAN systems are designed to function independently from VOR-DME systems.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

VOR-DME systems use a more advanced technique than TACAN systems for determining the distance to a ground station.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

MOCAs are designed primarily for pilots to achieve maximum altitude during flight.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pilots flying at the MOCA altitude are guaranteed proper VOR reception within 22 nautical miles of the VOR.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Maximum Authorized Altitudes (MAAs) are necessary for ensuring ground-based radio reception signals are interference-free.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

VOR airways are identified by the letter J if they are classified as low-altitude airways.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Rho–rho position determination requires only a single VOR to establish the aircraft's position.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The VOR provides both bearing and distance information to the pilot.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In using airborne VOR equipment, a pilot can plot a line of position from only one VOR.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The term 'theta' is used to describe the bearing information provided by the VOR.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The rho–rho method requires the aircraft to be outside the service volume of both VOR transmitters for accurate position determination.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A VOR receiver can legally have an accuracy of ±6°, making each radial 12° wide for position determination.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the two radials from VORs do not meet at right angles, position determination accuracy is improved.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

DME position determination techniques require the use of two stations for accurate location finding.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The service volume of VOR transmitters influences the effectiveness of position determination methods.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Position determination using the rho–theta method can only be performed when within the service volume of a single station.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When determining position, accuracy is maximized by having VOR stations positioned at angles that are not approximately perpendicular.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The minimum obstruction clearance altitude is not relevant to the functioning of VOR navigation.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The difference between slant range and ground distance is less significant at high altitudes near the DME ground station.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The FAA considers the slant range when determining holding-pattern sizes and intersection locations.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The TACAN system operates on a longitude-based coordinate system.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A conventional VOR transmitter requires a small clear zone around it to operate effectively.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

DME ground stations can become saturated if too many aircraft transmit on different frequencies.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The DME system operates on a frequency of approximately 1,000 Hz.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Range time is calculated based on the interval of time between the transmission of a coded pulse and the reception of its reply.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

As an aircraft's altitude increases, the difference between slant range and ground distance decreases.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An aircraft 5.0 ground miles from the DME station at 6,000 feet will show approximately 5.0 nautical miles on the DME indicator.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The DME equipment consists of a transponder aboard the aircraft and an interrogator on the ground.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The principle of distance measurement in DME is based on elapsed time measurement.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the aircraft is directly over the DME station at an altitude of 30,000 feet, the DME indicator will show approximately 30.0 nautical miles.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The elapsed range time for a signal to travel 1 nautical mile and return is 12.36 nanoseconds.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Very high frequency (VHF) operates within the 3-30 gHz range.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ultra high frequency (UHF) is used for both DME and TACAN communications.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The operational frequency range of TACAN extends from 3 to 30 mHz.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Medium frequency (MF) operates between 300 and 3,000 kHz.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Extremely high frequency (EHF) is allocated for naval communication.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

TACAN is seldom used by military aircraft due to its large equipment size.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

High frequency (HF) is primarily used for long-range communications.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The line of sight communication of UHF is more susceptible to reflection compared to VHF.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

MEA (Minimum En Route Altitude)

The minimum altitude an aircraft must maintain while traveling along an established airway.

MOCA (Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude)

The minimum altitude required to provide a safe obstacle clearance during a specific flight procedure.

Rho-Rho Method

A method of determining aircraft position using two VORs by measuring the distance (rho) from each VOR.

Area Defined by VOR Accuracy

The area where an aircraft's position is determined by the combined accuracy of two VOR receivers.

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VOR Radial

A radial is a line extending from a VOR at a specific angle, giving the aircraft's direction from the VOR.

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Rho-Theta Method

A technique for determining an aircraft's position using a single VOR and a distance measuring equipment (DME).

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DME (Distance Measuring Equipment)

A piece of equipment that measures the distance between an aircraft and a ground-based transmitter, typically a VOR or a ground beacon.

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VOR Service Volume

The area within which a VOR transmitter provides reliable signals for navigation.

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What is a MOCA?

Minimum Obstacle Clearance Altitude (MOCA) is a designated altitude along airways that ensures obstacle clearance only. It allows pilots to safely descend in emergencies, guaranteeing obstacle clearance.

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What is a MAA?

Maximum Authorized Altitude (MAA) is the maximum usable altitude for an airway segment where interference-free ground-based radio signal reception is guaranteed. It helps avoid signal interference from other navaids operating on the same frequency.

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How are VOR airways identified?

VOR airways are identified by a letter and number. Low-altitude airways are denoted by the letter 'V', while high-altitude airways are denoted by the letter 'J'.

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What is a Doppler VOR station?

A Doppler VOR station is a type of VOR station that uses the Doppler effect to provide accurate bearing information.

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What information does a VOR provide?

VOR airways are only designed to provide bearing information, known as rho, not distance from the station.

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What is rho-rho position determination?

Rho-rho position determination uses bearing information from two different VOR stations to determine the aircraft's position. The pilot plots lines of position from each VOR, and the intersection of these lines indicates the aircraft's location.

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What is rho-theta position determination?

Rho-theta position determination uses both bearing information (rho) from a VOR and distance information (theta) to accurately locate the aircraft.

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What are unusable radials?

Unusable radials are specific radials from a VOR station that may be unreliable or blocked by terrain. These radials are marked on charts and listed in the Airport Facility Directory.

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What does DME measure?

DME measures slant range, the direct line-of-sight distance between the aircraft and the DME ground station.

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What is slant range?

Slant range is the distance measured along the line of sight between the aircraft and the DME ground station.

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What is ground distance?

Ground distance is the actual distance traveled on the ground between the aircraft and the DME ground station.

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When is the difference between slant range and ground distance most noticeable?

The difference between slant range and ground distance is most significant when the aircraft is at a high altitude and relatively close to the DME station.

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How does the FAA address the difference between slant range and ground distance?

The FAA takes the difference between slant range and ground distance into account when establishing holding patterns, intersection locations, and airway layouts.

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Rho-Theta Position Determination

A method of determining an aircraft's position using two VORs (VHF Omnidirectional Range) and DME (Distance Measuring Equipment).

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Rho

The radial (direction) of an aircraft from a VOR transmitter, expressed in degrees.

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Theta

The distance of an aircraft from a VOR transmitter, measured in Nautical Miles (NM).

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Elapsed Time Measurement

The principle behind DME, which uses the time it takes for a radio signal to travel between the aircraft and the ground station to determine the distance.

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Interrogator

The aircraft's equipment that transmits and receives radio signals to determine distance from a VOR transmitter.

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Transponder

The ground-based equipment that receives signals from the aircraft's interrogator and transmits a coded reply for distance calculation.

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Slant Range

The actual distance between the aircraft and the DME ground station, which includes the vertical component (altitude).

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Very High Frequency (VHF)

Radio waves with frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz, used for communications in navigation systems like VOR and marker beacons, and for civil communications.

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Ultra High Frequency (UHF)

Radio waves with frequencies between 300 and 3,000 MHz, used for DME, TACAN, MLS, glide slope, and military communications.

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TACAN

A navigation system that provides both bearing (direction) and distance information to pilots using a single ground transmitter.

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TACAN Frequency Range

TACAN operates in the UHF frequency band, between 960 and 1,215 MHz, allowing for smaller and more portable equipment.

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TACAN Operation

TACAN does not use a passive transmitter like VOR, but operates similarly to DME, using an interrogator-transponder system.

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TACAN Applications

TACAN is used on aircraft carriers and in mobile, land-based equipment due to its smaller size and ease of installation.

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UHF Advantages

UHF frequencies are line-of-sight, but less susceptible to reflection than VHF frequencies, improving siting and reducing signal interference.

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TACAN Use

TACAN is rarely used by civilian aircraft due to the prevalence of VOR-DME systems in commercial aviation.

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What is TACAN?

A system used by the military for navigation, providing both bearing and distance information to pilots.

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How does TACAN work?

TACAN operates by sending a coded signal from the aircraft to a ground station, which then transmits a coded reply. The aircraft measures the time it takes for the signal to return, calculating the distance.

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How does TACAN determine bearing?

The interrogator on the aircraft decodes the signal from the ground station, determining the aircraft's bearing (azimuth) relative to the station.

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Describe VOR-DME.

A civilian navigation system providing both bearing and distance information to pilots.

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Why did the CAA prefer VOR-DME to TACAN?

The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) recommended VOR-DME as the civil standard because it was already being implemented and its components were readily available at a lower cost.

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What is a key advantage of VOR-DME?

One of the key advantages of VOR-DME is that its components (VOR and DME) can be purchased separately, allowing pilots to choose the level of navigational equipment they need.

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How does flexibility in equipment purchase benefit pilots?

The ability to purchase just VOR equipment initially and add DME later, if needed, provides greater flexibility and cost control for pilots.

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What was the concern regarding TACAN and VOR-DME development?

The military and civilian sectors were developing separate navigation systems, TACAN and VOR-DME, respectively, at the same time. This led to concerns about the cost and efficiency of maintaining two separate systems.

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Study Notes

Airway Designators

  • Minimum obstruction clearance altitudes (MOCAs) are designated along some airways, which are lower than minimum en route altitudes (MEAs)
  • MOCAs are specifically for obstacle clearance
  • Pilots can descend to MOCA altitude if needed, while still being guaranteed obstacle clearance
  • Maximum authorized altitudes (MAAs) are sometimes assigned to high-altitude airways, providing the maximum altitude for unimpeded reception by a ground-based radio signal
  • VOR airways have numbers, preceded by 'V' for low-altitude and 'J' for high-altitude

Aircraft Positioning Methods

  • VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) provides bearing information (rho), not distance (theta)
  • Two methods for accurate aircraft position using VORs:
    • Rho-rho: bearing from two different VORs, plotted on a chart, intersection determines position
    • Rho-theta: use bearing from one VOR and distance measured by another method (like DME)
  • Positioning using two VOR radials (lines of position) gives greater accuracy when the radials intersect at nearly a right angle, if the angle is not close to a right angle, the area will be larger.

Minimum En Route Altitude and Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude

  • Minimum En Route Altitude (MEA) defines the minimum altitude above ground level an aircraft must maintain
  • Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA) defines the minimum altitude above ground level for obstacle clearance, often lower than MEAs
  • MOCAs and MEAs are depicted in figures 2-23

DME Position Determination

  • DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) is a method to determine the distance from a station, in combination with VOR bearings, for positioning
  • DME utilizes a ground-based transponder and an aircraft interrogator
  • The elapsed time between signal transmission and receipt is measured to calculate the distance
  • The result is the slant range (direct distance between aircraft and the ground station), not the ground distance to the station
  • The difference between slant range and ground distance increases with altitude

Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN)

  • TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) is a polar coordinate-based navigation system
  • It uses UHF frequencies (960–1215 MHz)
  • It uses a method similar to DME, but with smaller size and easier portability
  • Ideal for hostile environments or temporary airfields
  • The distance is displayed to pilots, using a display system similar to that used for civilian VOR-DME indicators

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Description

This quiz covers essential concepts related to airway designators, including Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitudes (MOCAs) and Maximum Authorized Altitudes (MAAs). Additionally, it explores aircraft positioning methods using VOR, including rho-rho and rho-theta techniques. Brush up on your navigation skills with these crucial aviation principles!

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