Chapter6: RADIO ALTIMETER SYSTEM (RAM703)

1.0 INTRODUCTION: The main purpose of the system is to indicate the immediate height over the terrain over which the aircraft is flying. It also has the capabilities to alert the pilot when the predetermined altitude(decision height ) is reached. It is also a sensor for AFCS. 2.0SYSTEM DESCRIPTION : The primary system components of radio altimeter are : 1)a transceiver and 2) two antennas. -The radio altitude is displayed on the MFD(Multi Function Display) of IADS (Integrated Architecture & Display System). -The Decision Height (DH) can be set from the MFD or from the CDS (Control & Display System) of IADS. -The radio altimeter system provides accurate altitude above the ground terrain over which the helicopter is flying. TRANSCEIVER : The transceiver transmits a frequency modulated continuous wave signal. The reflected signal from the ground terrain is received and after processing, linear logarithmic altitude output is fed to the DIU (Data Interface Unit) of IADS in ARINC 552A analog format. Transceiver unit gives altitude output to AFCS. ANTENNA : There are two antennas one each for transmission & reception. The transmitter antenna transmits the radio altimeter signal and the receiver antenna receives the reflected signal from the ground terrain. Leading features of the radio altimeter system : Frequency Range : 4200 to 4400 MHz

Altitude Range (ARINC 552 output) : 0 750 m / 0 to 2,500 feet Altitude Accuracy : 0 30 m / 100 ft : + (1 m + 3 % of altitude) or + ( 2 ft + 3 % of altitude); 30 m / 100 ft to 750 m / 2,500 ft : + 4 % of the altitude

Aircraft Installation Delay (AID) : 57 feet (17.1 m) Overall Sensitivity : > 90 dB

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Power Supply

: 115 V AC

FIGURE 1 shows the interconnection between different LRUs of the system and other systems.

Altitude to AFCS
in ARINC 552A

Radio Altitude data ARINC 552A

VALIDITY(FLAG) SEARCH / TRACK

Voice warning to ICS

VALIDITY TO

AFCS

Radio altimeter T/R unit

SELF TEST

IADS (DH setting)

DH Discrete to AFCS

ALTITUDE TO FDR IN ARINC 717/573

Rx. Antenna

Tx. Antenna

Radio altitude in 1553B to Mission Sensors/Weapons

Radio altitude in ARINC 429 to AFCS

FIG 1:RAM Interface Diagram 3.0 Radio Altimeter Control & Display MFD (Multi Function Display)

a) Radio Altimeter Scale : -Radio altitude range displayed over the scale is 0 to 300 meter. -It consists of a fixed numbered nonlinear scale (Pointer 1 in Figure 2), moving framed arrow with digital readout (Pointer 2 in Figure 2), an adjustable altitude warning indicator (Pointer 3 in Figure 2) as presented in the following figure :

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Figure 2 - Radio Altitude Display in MKS Format

-The RAD ALT scale colour is white and consists of non linear scale divided to bars. -The numbered bars represent the altitude in multiplication of ten (X10). The 30 meter altitude is divided to 6 bars each representing 5 meters. The altitude between 30 and 50 meters is divided to 2 bars each representing 10 meters. The altitude between 50 and 300 meters is divided to 4 bars each representing 50 meters. b) Radio Altimeter Arrow with Readout

-The Arrow with the digital readout move up and down along the scale, displaying the actual values of the Radar altitude. -The digital readout intervals are as follows :
1 meter intervals from 0 to 30 meters. 5 meters intervals from 30 to 300 meters . 10 meters intervals from 300 meters to the end of the

readout range. -When the arrow reaches the top of the scale the digital readout continues to be updated until 750 meters. Above 750 meters the readout and the arrow disappears. The readout and the arrow are presented again upon helicopter descending to 749 meters and under.
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-The arrow moves down again as the altitude reaches 299 meters and under. -When the altitude of the RAD ALT is above the altitude warning indicator, the colour of the arrow and the digital readout is white. When the altitude of the RAD ALT is below the altitude warning indicator, the arrow with the digital readout changes their colour to red along with the appearance of red title "LOW" at the bottom of the scale as presented in the following figure :

Figure 3- Low Altitude Warning Display in MKS Format - DECISION HEIGHT voice warning is heard twice from VWS (Voice Warning system). -In case that the RAD ALT is turned off upon pilot request, the arrow with the readout disappears.

c) Altitude Warning Indicator The purpose of the Warning indicator is to warn the crew that the helicopter has descended below a predetermined altitude. The altitude warning indicator is set by using OSS ML2 adjacent to the orange colour caption "RAD" and the upper right rocker. The first press of the OSS ML2 executes the following functions : 1. Enslaving of the upper right rocker to the altitude warning indicator setting.
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2. Display of orange colour digits, at the bottom of the scale, which indicate the current altitude that the warning indicator was set as presented at the following figure. The digits are presented for 5 seconds unless a further adjustment is implemented. There are no leading zeros in the digits field. Warning indicator digits field data limit : 0 750 m

Figure 4 - Altitude Warning Indicator Digits Display

The next press on either of the upper right rocker's arrow adjusts the warning indicator values as follows : -A single press shifts the indicator value up / down by 1 meter . -A constant press has the following effect :

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For the first two seconds it is held, indicator value will shift up / down 1 meter per 0.2 second (5 meters per second). From 2 to 5 seconds it is held, indicator value will shift up / down 1 meter per 0.1 second (10 meter per second). From more than 5 seconds it is held, indicator value will shift up / down 1 meter per 0.05 second (20 meters per second).

The power up default for the Warning indicator is 0 meter (feet) (IADS startup). In case that the RAD ALT is turned off upon pilot request, the warning indicator remains in its last position on the scale.

d) Malfunctions In case of invalid RAD ALT value, the arrow and the digital readout disappear and the title "XXX" appears at the bottom of the scale as presented in the following figure :

Figure 5 - RAD ALT with invalid data The altitude warning indicator remains in its current position on the scale.

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4.0

OPERATION : Switch ON the radio altimeter system by selecting the radio Altimeter ON/OFF switch to ON on the Overhead Switch Panel. Altitude scale and digital readout shows 0 m (0 ft for ft version) in Pre-flight Display (PFD) page on Multi-function Display (MFD) on ground.

4.1 CDS.

Setting of DH : The Decision Height (DH) can be set either through the MFD or through the DH setting from MFD : On MFD-PFD page, press OSS (ML2) adjacent to orange colored caption RAD for activating DH selection. Orange color digits, at the bottom of the scale, which indicate the current altitude that the warning indicator was set is displayed. Use right upper rocker within 5 sec of pressing ML2 to set the DH. The DH pointer on the scale moves to the selected DH setting. DH setting from CDU : Press SET key on CDU. RALT DH is displayed at CR2 as shown in Figure 6 in orange. RALT DH value field is displayed in orange. Data format is of 4 digits. The value is within the range of 0 750 M (0 2500 FT). Pressing the OSS enables to enter the RALT DH value. The DH setting should read the DH setting entered (the DH pointer on the radio altimeter scale moves to the selected DH setting).

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Figure 6 - SET Page

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SELF-TEST : On CDU, Press MNT key to go to MNT MAIN page. TESTS is displayed as shown in Figure 7, in green. Select TESTS OSS to go to MNT TESTS page as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 7 : MNT MAIN Page Press OSS corresponding to RADALT. RAD ALT Self Test is performed. Second pressing of the OSS ends the testing procedure. The caption "TESTING" blinks during the test for 10 seconds. Result of the RALT test is displayed in white in CR2 lower line. RALT test result is either "OK" or "FAIL". RALT test result is displayed for 3 seconds, approximately. All text is displayed in white. On MFD-PFD page, Altitude scale and digital readout shows 5 2 m (17 6.5 ft) for 10 seconds if RALT test result is "OK" on CDU. After 10 seconds, altitude scale and digital readout shows 0 m ( 0 ft, for ft version)

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Figure 8 MNT-TESTS Page1 5.0 INTERFACE WITH OTHER SYSTEMS : The Radio altimeter system is interfaced with following Systems : IADS : Radio altimeter altitude output is given to DIU of IADS. AFCS : Radio altimeter altitude output is given to AFCS.

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