Advanced Radio

and Radar
Part 7
Types of Radar

Introduction
We have already looked at
the general principle of operation
of both radio communication and radar.
We will now look more closely
at a variety of different types of equipment
used in the RAF,
to see how and where they are used.

Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

The purpose of PAR
is to plot the approach of an aircraft
and allow ATC to give accurate guidance
to achieve a safe landing.
The system can be used
in poor weather conditions
(i.e. low cloud, limited visibility),

thus reducing interruptions

to a stations flying programme.

Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

PAR consists of a Radar Head cabin
connected to the ATCC.
The Radar Head can rotate around a central point,
so it can serve whichever runway is in use.
The Radar Head itself has
three distinct assemblies;
The Radar Cabin,
The Azimuth Antenna,
The Elevation Antenna.

Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

Narrow beams are transmitted
from each antenna.
One horizontal (2 wide by 0.5 high) for height,
the other vertical (0.5 wide by 2 high) for bearing.

Bearing

Height

Controlled by the ATC the beams are interlocked,

and allows the aircraft to be
"captured" in the beam pattern.

Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

The cross beam information is shown
on a screen with two displays.
One display is of the elevation scan,
the other shows the azimuth scan.
Elevation

Azimuth

Using both displays

the controller is able to guide the aircraft
down a safe "glide path" to approach the runway
on the correct course.

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

ILS is a runway guidance system
for a safe landing without a ground controller
and provides the pilot with:
a. A visual indication of the aircrafts azimuth.
(on a cockpit instrument)

b. A visual indication of the aircrafts elevation.

(on the same cockpit instrument)

c. Both an audio and visual indication of

the aircrafts distance from touch down.
d. An audio indication of the identity of the airfield
(in Morse code),

to confirm landing at the right airfield.

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

This system has 3 separate elements:
a. Localiser Transmitter.
Provides
Azimuth
to keep
the aircraft
b. Glide
Path
Transmitter.
on a central
To giveapproach
the pilot line.
c. Outer, Middle
& Inner
Marker Beacons.
elevation
information.

OM

MM

RUNWAY

IM

GT

LT

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

Aircraft Passes
OuterMMMarker (5RUNWAY
miles out)
LT
OM
Glide Path Beams Emitted
Passes Middle Marker ( mile out)
To use the ILS a pilot must position
the aircraft
GT
in line with the instrument runway
at a range of some 20 to 25 miles.
OM

MM

RUNWAY

GT

LT

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

The pilot has a 2-point meter.
One gives the lateral direction to fly (left or right),
the other gives the vertical direction (up or down).
When the two pointers cross in the centre
the pilot is on the correct glide-path and heading.
The instrument also has warning flags
which remain "set" until there is sufficient
signal strength for the system to operate.

Flags Set
Signed strength Low

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

The airfield Localiser Transmitter (LT)
radiates two beams,
one at 90 Hz, the other at 150 Hz.
If the aircraft is off course to the left,
90 Hz is dominant
and the azimuth pointer
90 Hz
moves to the right.
RUNWAY

LT

If the aircraft is off course to the right,

150 Hz and the pointer moves left.
150 Hz is dominant

Flags Set
Signed strength Low

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

The glide path transmitter sends out 2 beams
modulated at 90 Hz and 150 Hz
If the
aircraft is too high on approach,
90 Hz
90 Hz is dominant and the lateral pointer
150 Hz moves downwards.
If the aircraft
is too low
on approach,
RUNWAY
OM
MM
GT
150 Hz dominates and the pointer moves upwards.
Above
On Glide-path
Glide-path
Below

Flags Retracted
Signed strength OK

Digital Resolution Direction Finding

Ground-based DRDF equipment provides
a direction fix for aircraft,
or as an auto-triangulation system.
DRDF provides the controller with information on
aircraft bearings in the following forms:
a. Digital pulses to give a digital read-out
and a vector display.
b. Direct Current (DC) voltage proportional to
the angle of the bearing.
c. Combined pulses from other installations
to triangulate the aircrafts position.

Digital Resolution Direction Finding

DRDF is used primarily for aircraft in distress,
by accurately pinpointing an aircraft.
The distressed aircraft
transmits a code used to
determine a directional
bearing of the aircraft.
Using similar information from
other installations, the aircrafts
position is triangulated.
There are two control centres
in the UK, one at West Drayton
and the other at Prestwick.

Check of Understanding
What are the distinct elements of
a PAR assembly?
Radar cabin, Range scanner
and Azimuth antenna
Radar cabin, Elevation antenna
and Azimuth antenna
Radar cabin, Elevation antenna
and Range finder
Radar cabin, Elevation antenna
and Range finder

Check of Understanding
What does PAR stand for?
Pin-point approach radar
Precision approach radar
Portable aircraft radar
Primary aircraft radar

Check of Understanding
What does this screen portray on PAR?

Elevation
Range
Azimuth
Distance

Check of Understanding
What does ILS stand for?

Immediate Landing System

Interim Landing System
Instrument Landing System
Indicator Lights System

Check of Understanding
What are the marker beacons in an ILS?

First, Middle and Final

Distant, Middle and Inner
Outer, Middle and Inner
Far, Middle and Runway

Check of Understanding
At what distance could a pilot use ILS?
Over 50 nautical miles
Within 25 nautical miles
Under 5 nautical miles only
At 1 nautical mile only

Check of Understanding
In this diagram,
what state is displayed?
Flags retracted
signal strength high
Flags set
signal strength high
Flags retracted
signal strength low
Flags set
signal strength high

Check of Understanding
Which of the following
is information supplied to a pilot from ILS?
Azimuth approach angle
Height to touchdown
Azimuth descent angle
Runway bearing number

Check of Understanding
In this diagram
what action should the pilot take?
Move left
Gain height
Move right
Lose height

Check of Understanding
Which three elements make up ILS?
Marker Buoys,
Azimuth Antenna
and Localiser Transmitter
Marker Buoys,
Glide-path Transmitter
and Localiser Transmitter
Marker Beacons,
Azimuth Antenna
and Localiser Transmitter
Marker Beacons,
Glide-path Transmitter
and Localiser Transmitter

Check of Understanding
In an aircraft using ILS
the meters flags are set because . . .
The meter needs re-calibration
The aircraft is not on beam
Signal strength is inadequate
Signal strength is adequate

Check of Understanding
What does DRDF stand for?

Digital Resolution Direction Finding.

Direct Resolution Direction Finding.
Digital Radar Direction Finding.
Direct Radar Direction Finding.

Check of Understanding
DRDF provides the controller with data
in three forms, digital pulses, a DC voltage
and which other?
An AC voltage
Combined digital pulses
A sawtooth waveform
A sinusoidal output

Advanced Radio
and Radar
End of
Presentation