ECE432N

NAME : Mariam Ahmed Elaraby

ID : 98012

Airplane Antennas

In radio engineering, an antenna (American English) or aerial (British

English) is the interface between radio waves propagating through space
and electric currents moving in metal conductors, used with a transmitter
or receiver.
Role in Communication :
Aircraft antennas are responsible for transmitting and receiving signals
between the aircraft and ground control stations or other aircraft.

They are essential for maintaining real-time communication and

ensuring aircraft safety. Without proper communication between an
aircraft and air traffic control, flying would be extremely dangerous.

Airplanes have a variety of antennas

There is 8 basic types of Antennas that an airplane uses
Such as :
1. Communications Antennas

2. GPS Antennas

3. Loran Antennas

4. Loop Antennas

5. Marker Beacon Antennas

 6. Nav Antennas

7. Radio Altimeters

8. UHF Antennas

These types of Antenna’s each have a role of their own

1.Communication Antennas
When most laypeople think of aircraft
antennas, they assume they are there for
effective communication, which is correct.
Com antennas are usually mounted on either
the top or bottom of the aircraft, and their
only concern is being affected by the
shadowing of the fuselage. Each com transmitter has its own antenna,
and the antenna are strategically placed mainly because their range and
coverage can be negatively affected if positioned incorrectly.
The way they work is fairly simple, and their placement is crucial to
them being efficient in their purpose.
For example, the radio feeding the top antenna usually works best for
communicating while the plane is still on the ground, while the one
feeding the antenna on the bottom of the plane will usually work best
when the plane is in the air. It isn’t difficult to figure out why.
2.GPS Antennas
A GPS antenna is a device that receives radio signals
from GPS satellites at varying frequencies. The
antenna expands the signals and converts them into
electronic signals so that they can be interpreted by a
GPS receiver. The GPS receiver then uses these signals to give an
accurate estimate of the receiver's location.
Simply put, a GPS antenna helps you establish connectivity to the
Global Positioning System (GPS). It is a system that was initially owned
by the US Department of Defense. For years, GPS usage was limited for
the military, but from 1983 onwards, civilians have been using it as well.
Transmitting less than five watts of power, GPS antennas result in
signals that are usually very weak.
Because of this, most GPS antennas consist of built-in amplifiers that are
designed to boost the signal for the receiver. In addition, the GPS
frequency is very high, usually in the gigahertz band, which requires that
the GPS antenna to be attached to the very top portion of the fuselage.
Communications antennas can cause interference with GPS antennas,
which means that the two antennas should be placed as far away from
each other as possible. Suction cup antennas are often used with hand-
held GPSs, but they can spell disaster when placed in certain areas, such
as in the windows. This is but one of the reasons why IFR certification
with hand-held GPSs is likely not going to happen anytime soon.
3.Loran Antennas
LORAN, short for long range
navigation, was
a hyperbolic radio
navigation system developed in
the United States during World
War II. It was similar to the
UK's Gee system but operated at lower frequencies in order to provide
an improved range up to 1,500 miles (2,400 km) with an accuracy of
tens of miles. It was first used for ship convoys crossing the Atlantic
Ocean, and then by long-range patrol aircraft, but found its main use on
the ships and aircraft operating in the Pacific theater during World War
II.
Long-range navigation, or Loran antennas, look a lot like
communications antennas until you look on the inside. Loran antennas
usually contain either an amplifier built into their base so that the signal
is better or a smaller amplifier located just under the skin. They are
meant to be placed either on the top or bottom of the plane, but you must
configure the receiver to fit the exact antenna position for them to work
properly. Loran systems are very prone to P-static, which results from
electrical charge buildup should the plane fly through heavy dust or rain.
However, if you bond the airframe structures and antennas properly, this
often prevents that from happening. Static buildup is also caused when
the vinyl stickers found on the vertical fin decide to attract static buildup
and other types of interference.

4.Loop Antennas
A loop antenna is a radio antenna consisting of a
loop or coil of wire, tubing, or other electrical
conductor, that for transmitting is usually fed by a
balanced power source or for receiving feeds a
balanced load.
They are also called directional antennas because they can actually
determine which direction a signal is coming from. They consist of two
or three separate coils that make them look like a flattened bagel, and
each signal is received between the coils at various strengths. Loop
antennas are usually short and wide,
hence their bagel-like shape, and they can be found on either the top or
bottom of the aircraft, although they are usually on the bottom. These are
the types of antennas that lightning detection systems usually use. They
tend to hold oil and water and, therefore, a good seal job is
always recommended to prevent water buildup and to make the antennas
last longer.

5.Marker Beacon Antennas

Marker beacon antennas have to be on the bottom of the aircraft because
to receive any signal, the antennas have to be almost directly over the
transmitting ground station. There are many different types of marker
beacon antennas, with the most common ones resembling little canoes
that are roughly 10 inches long. They are both simple and reliable.
Cessna has used modified versions of the marker beacon antenna with
great success. These include flush antennas located under the empennage
that look like flat plates, and antennas that have thick wires that protrude
straight down from the empennage and then turn towards the tail of the
plane. Both of these types of marker beacon antennas have proven to be
very successful.
6.Navigation Antennas
Almost always found on the vertical tail, nav antennas come in three
main types. The cat whisker has several rods jutting out from each side
of the stabilizer at 45-degree angles. It is a good antenna to have when
you’re flying low because it cannot receive signals from the side. A
second type, the dual blade, has antennas on either
side of the tail.
A third type of nav antenna, the towel bar, is a
balanced loop antenna that can easily receive
signals from all directions. Towel bar antennas are
found on both sides of the tail of the airplane and
are often required for area navigation (RNAV) systems.
7.Radio Altimeters
These antennas, which look like six-inch-square plates,
are placed on the bottom of the aircraft. They are usually
either a single- or dual-antenna system, and the radar
signal is transmitted straight down and literally bounces
off of the ground. Radio altimeters include high
frequencies and, therefore, require a secure electrical
bond with the skin of the airplane.
You can determine the distance above the ground by measuring the time
between the transmission of the signal and when the signal is received.
Again, the secure bond of the antenna is a must; otherwise, the system
talks to itself and causes false readings.
8.UHF Antennas
Utilized mostly for distance-measuring equipment (DME) and
transponders, UHF aircraft antennas are only around four inches long
and are always found on the bottom of the aircraft. They can be used for
both DMEs and transponders, and their two main types are blade and
spike antennas. Spike antennas should only be used for transponders,
while blade antennas work best with DMEs.
When the landing gear of an airplane is down, it can shadow UHF
antennas because of their small size, and spike
antennas are even prone to trouble due to things
like errant scrub brushes. Biannual transponder
checks are also highly recommended, in part
because blade antennas can have oil and water
buildup and, therefore, may distort the transmitted
signal.