THE VHF COMMUNICATION

AIR TO AIR

AIR TO
GROUND

1
VHF COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
• The VHF system provides short-range (space wave) voice
communication between:
- The aircraft and ground stations.
- Aircraft to aircraft
• Communication in VHF is essentially “line of sight “ by direct
(space) waves.
• The system is used for short range communication during
approach, landing and take-off phases of flight with Operating
frequency ranges from 117.95 to 137.0 MHz.
• The advantage of VHF communication is that the signals are
not distorted by static and other types of noise interferences.
Each VHF system has:
- A VHF antenna
- A VHF communication transceiver.
• You use these components to operate the VHF radio:
• - Microphone or headset
• - Remote mic switch
• - Control wheel mic switch
• - Radio tuning panel (RTP)
• - Audio control panel (ACP).
VHF SYSTEM -- VHF COMMUNICATION TRANSCEIVER
 The VHF communication transceiver
changes RF signals to audio signals
during receive and changes audio
signals to RF signals during transmit.
 The transceiver has:
• - 8.33 KHz frequency spacing
• - 118 MHz to 136.975 MHz frequency
range
• - 25 watts minimum output power.
VHF SYSTEM -- RADIO TUNING PANEL
• The radio tuning panel (RTP) selects the modes of
operation, and selects the active and standby
frequencies for each communication radio.
• The active frequency window shows the current
frequency of the selected radio.
• The standby frequency window shows the frequency
that the flight crew selects with the frequency
selectors.
The radio tuning panel (RTP)
• The standby frequency window also shows auto tune
The frequency transfer switch causes the active and
standby frequencies to change windows.
• You select only one radio at a time. The green light in
the selected radio switch comes on.
• The HF SENS control sets the RF sensitivity level of
the onside HF transceiver.
• Use the AM switch to select between AM and SSB
modulation modes for the selected HF transceiver.
VHF SYSTEM -- AUDIO CONTROL PANEL
General Description
• The audio control
panel(ACP) supplies
transmitter selection,
receiver selection and
volume control for the
left, center, or right VHF
communication
transceiver.
Components Location
• The radio tuning panels (RTPs) and The audio control
panels (ACPs) are on the aisle stand panel.
• The VHF communication transceivers are in the
main equipment center.
• The three VHF antennas are on the upper and lower
fuselage.
Components
OPERATION
• Receive Operation
• Push the radio selector switch for the VHF radio you want
to use. The VHF transceiver is tuned to the frequency in the
active frequency indicator.
• Tune the radio to a new frequency, and push the frequency
transfer switch. The active frequency indicator shows the
new frequency. The VHF transceiver is tuned to the new
frequency.
• On the ACP, push the volume control for the radio. Listen
to the audio from the VHF radio on the speaker or headset.
• Transmit Operation
• Push the microphone selector switch on the audio control panel
for the VHF radio. When you push the microphone selector
switch, the VHF receiver volume control is automatically on.
• Listen for transmissions on the frequency you selected.
• When the frequency is clear and you want to transmit a
message, key the mic and speak into it.
• You hear side-tone in the headphone and muted side-tone
from the speaker.
Aircraft HF Communication systems
• It is two way AM voice communication between aircrafts and
from aircraft to ground station.
• Operating frequency range:- 2 to 30 MHz
• Frequency selection is made in 1 KHz steps, so there are
28000 channels available
• There are two modes of operation. These modes are:
AM – Amplitude Modulation
SSB – Single Side Band.
• It is used for long range radio transmission and
reception.
• As a result, transoceanic aircraft often use HF radios
for voice communication.
• It uses sky wave transmission to achieve a long
distance.
• Light a/c: they may or may not use HF system.
Components
The HF communication system uses two HF systems that
have these components:
• - HF antenna - transmits and receives RF signals in the HF
range
• - HF antenna couplers (2) - do an impedance match of the
antenna and transmission line to the output of the
transceiver at the selected frequency
• - HF communication transceivers (2) - operate in the AM
or upper side band (USB) mode.
Connections
The HF communication
system connects with :
- Three radio tuning
panels (RTPs)
- Three Audio Control
Panels (ACPs)
Signal Flow - Transmit
• You select a transmit switch on any ACP and push a
mic switch to transmit.
• The transceiver changes the mic audio to an RF
signal. The transceiver sends the RF signal to the
antenna coupler.
• The antenna coupler sends the RF signal to the HF
antenna.
• The HF antenna transmits the signal.
Signal Flow – Receive
• The HF antenna receives RF signals and sends them
to both HF antenna couplers.
• The antenna couplers send the RF signals to the HF
communication transceivers.
• The transceivers change the RF signals to audio
signals.
• The flight crew selects a receiver control switch on
their ACP.
Operation
Operation
• Listen for transmissions on the frequency you selected.
When the frequency is clear, push and release the push-
to-talk for the microphone.
• This causes the HF coupler to tune to the transmission
frequency. While the coupler tunes, the HF transceiver
supplies a 1 kHz tone. You hear this tone on the speaker
and in the headset.
• Normally, it takes several seconds for the coupler to tune.
When the 1 kHz tone stops, the HF system is ready to
transmit.
• When you select another frequency and key the mic
to transmit, the HF coupler tunes again. You hear the
1 kHz tone while it tunes.
• If you hear the 1 kHz tone for more than 15 seconds
when the coupler tunes, there may be a coupler fault.
• If the tone only lasts as long as you key the
microphone, you may have tuned a frequency which
is outside the frequency range for the HF
transceiver.
Component Location
• The HF communication transceivers are in the Aft
Cargo area.
• These are the three HF system components in the
vertical stabilizer:
• - HF communication antenna
• - Two HF antenna couplers.
Component Location
 The HF radio is the high power transmitter radio. Its electromagnetic
radiation can cause electric currents strong enough to create sparks
that ignite, possibly leading to an explosion.
 WARNING: DO NOT TRANSMIT WITH THE HF COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM WHILE THE AIRPLANE IS REFUELED OR DEFUELED. AN
EXPLOSION CAN CAUSE INJURIES TO PERSONNEL AND DAMAGE
TO THE AIRPLANE.
 WARNING: MAKE SURE PERSONNEL STAY A MINIMUM OF 6 FEET
AWAY FROM THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WHEN THE HF SYSTEM
TRANSMITS. RF ENERGY FROM THE HF COMMUNICATION
ANTENNA CAN CAUSE INJURIES TO PERSONNEL.
SELCAL SYSTEM
• The Selective Calling System known as SELCAL is a
signaling method to alert an individual aircraft that a
ground station wishes to communicate with the aircraft.
• It can be used on HF or VHF channels and is designed to
relieve flight crews from the need to continuously maintain
a listening watch on their assigned radio channels.
• This generates a number of benefits including reduced
flight crew workload and cockpit noise both of which can
have a negative effect on human performance
• Each SELCAL equipped aircraft has a different four-
letter permanent code.
• The code is placarded in the cockpit of each SELCAL
equipped aircraft.
• A ground station transmits this code with a signal to
make a call to an airplane.
• It is critical to remember that both the ground station
and the aircraft need to be operating on the same HF
or VHF frequency for the system to operate properly.
SELCAL circuit
 The elements comprising the
overall system are the following:
I. Ground SELCAL tone generator and
control panel
II. Ground-to-air transmitter, HF or VHF
III. Airborne receiver, HF or VHF
IV. Airborne SELCAL decoder unit
V. Aircraft SELCAL signal indicators
SELCAL
• When the airplane receives its SELCAL
code, flight compartment indications
come on to give an alert to the flight crew.
• On the Audio Control Panel, a transmitter
select switch CALL light comes on when
the SELCAL decoder gets a SELCAL
signal.
• The message, SELCAL appears on the
EICAS display to the aural warning
speakers.
Satellite Communication
(SATCOM)
• The satellite communications (SATCOM) system uses ground stations
and satellites to transmit and receive data and voice messages.
• SATCOM gives higher quality data and voice message signals for
passengers and crew for longer distances than VHF/HF communication
systems.
• There must be a line of sight communication.
• The SATCOM antenna transmits an L-band (1626.5 to 1660.5 MHz) RF
signal to the satellite network, and it receives the L-band (1530 to 1559
MHz) RF signals from the satellite network.
SATCOM SYSTEM -- GENERAL DESCRIPTION
• The global satellite communication system includes:
• - 1. A satellite network of geostationary satellites in
orbit directly above the equator
• - 2. The airplane communications system, called the
Aeronautical Earth Station (AES)
• - 3. The ground-based communications system, called
the Ground Earth Station (GES).
1. Satellite Network
• The satellite network contains four satellites and operates
as a relay between the ground earth stations and the
airplane.
• The satellites are part of the International Maritime
Satellite Organization (INMARSAT). The satellites are in
geosynchronous orbit.
• The SATCOM system uses the satellites in orbit to relay
voice and high speed data (HSD) transmissions to ground
earth stations (GESs) located at various places around the
world.
• There are 4 satellites in geo-synchronous orbit directly
over the equator that SATCOM interfaces with.
• These are the satellites that SATCOM uses to transmit
and receive data:
• - Atlantic Ocean Region - West (AOR-W)
• - Atlantic Ocean Region - East (AOR-E)
• - Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
• - Pacific Ocean Region (POR).
Spot Beams
• To provide for better and
more reliable coverage,
the satellites focus more
bandwidth to areas that
have higher populations
and higher traffic routes.
These areas are known as
spot beams.
• HSD is only available for
use when the airplane is
in a spot beam coverage
area.
2. Ground Earth Station (GES)
• The ground earth stations (GES) are the part of the
satellite communication system that is on the ground.
• The GES are responsible for routing the voice and
data calls from the AES to their destinations around
the world.
• The GES connects the SATCOM system to the
ground-based ACARS and public telephone
networks.
3. Aeronautical Earth Station
• The Aircraft Earth Station unit transmits on L-band
frequencies between 1530 and 1660.5MHz.
• These are the components of the airplane SATCOM
system:
• - Satellite data unit (SDU)
• - Low noise amplifier/diplexer (LNA/DIP)
• - High gain antenna (HGA).
• The satellite data unit
(SDU) is the system
interface and controller for
the airplane SATCOM
system.
• The multipurpose control
display units (MCDU)
connect with the satellite
data unit (SDU) to control
the SATCOM system.
• The high gain antenna
(HGA) receives and transmits
L-band radio frequency (RF)
signals for voice and data
communication.
• It has an integrated beam
steering capability
• It is mounted on top of the
aircraft so as to have the best
coverage of the sky.
• The low noise
amplifier/diplexer
(LNA/DIP) lets the
SATCOM system
receive and transmit
signals at the same
time.
• It also increases the
strength of low
power received
satellite signals.
SATCOM SYSTEM -- INTERFACE - TRANSMIT/RECEIVE

• The SATCOM system provides three channels to

support voice and data communications.
1. The first channel is for Aero classic voice
communication,
2. the second channel is for Swift Broadband (SBB)
voice communication,
3. The third channel is for data link communication for
ACARS.
Control data inputs
• Air data inertial reference units (ADIRU) -The left and
right (ADIRU) supply inertial data to the SDU.
• The SDU uses the data for location, attitude, and
computed Doppler correction to compute beam steering
commands for the antenna system.
• Multi-mode receiver (MMR) - The SDU gets the GPS
position data and time from the GPS sensor unit of the
MMR. The SDU uses the GPS data during the Swift
Broadband (SBB) operation.
Main Menu
• The multipurpose
control display unit
(MCDU) has
SATCOM pages
that give control and
status of the
SATCOM system.
• You access the
SATCOM pages
from the MENU
page on the CDU.
OPERATION - LOG ON
• The SATCOM system on the airplane controls the
connection of the aircraft earth station (AES) to the ground
earth station (GES). This process is called a log-on.
At Power-Up
• An automatic log-on occurs when the airplane SATCOM
system powers up.
• When the SDU finds an active frequency from a satellite, it
locks on to it.
• The SDU then uses the satellite as a relay to connect to a
ground earth station.
Auto Log-On
• Use the multipurpose control display unit (MCDU) to
see the SATPHONE menu.
• Push the line select key (LSK) adjacent to LOG. The
SATCOM LOG shows the log-on state.
• If the system is logged-off, select the LSK adjacent to
AUTO LOG-ON to make the system log-on to a
satellite and GES.
Manual Log-On
• Push the LSK adjacent to LOG. This shows the
SATCOM LOG display.
• Push the LSK adjacent to SATELLITE ID until the
desired satellite ID shows.
• Push the LSK adjacent to GES ID until the desired
GES shows.
• Push the LSK adjacent to MANUAL LOG-ON to log
on to the system.
OPERATION - LOG ON
SAT DIRECTORY
• The SAT DIRECTORY INDEX page allows you to
access the lists of telephone numbers for making
calls using SATCOM.
• The satellite data unit (SDU) contains the specific
telephone numbers and categories for the operator in
the owner requirements table (ORT).
• The SAT DIRECTORY INDEX 1/2 page shows a list
of available directories.
Call Priority
• Each telephone number has an assigned priority. The
priority can be EMG (EMERGENCY), HGH (SAFETY),
LOW (NON-SAFETY), or PUB (PUBLIC) sequentially.
• When making a SBB call, the call priority is always PUB.
• CAUTION: DO NOT MAKE EMG (EMERGENCY)
CALLS EXCEPT IN ACTUAL EMERGENCIES. WHEN
YOU MAKE A CALL WITH EMG, THIS ACTIVATES
ALARMS IN THE GROUND EARTH STATIONS (GES)
AROUND THE WORLD.
SAT DIRECTORY
SATCOM SYSTEM -- OPERATION - MAKE CALL
• The SAT-PHONE page shows the status of the SAT-L
and SAT-R channels. You can make calls, answer
calls, and stop calls on this page.
Air-to-ground Call Sequence
• When the channel status is AVAILABLE, the crew may make a
call to the ground. Select MAKE CALL.
• The SDU starts to connect the call to the ground telephone
network. The channel status shows DIALING, then RINGING.
• When the call connects to the ground telephone network, these
indications show:
• - ANSWERED shows as channel status
• - Call light on the audio control panel (ACP) for the SATCOM
channel
• - High/low chime from the aural warning module.
Ground-to-air Call Sequence
• When someone on the ground makes a call to the
airplane, these indications show:
• - High/low chime from the aural warning module
• - Call light on the ACP for the SATCOM channel.
• To accept the call, select the MIC switch on the ACP
to begin voice communication.
• To reject the call, select the line select key (LSK)
adjacent to REJECT on the SAT-PHONE page.
MAKE CALL
• When the person on the other end of the telephone line
answers, push the PTT switch and speak into the microphone.
• You do not need to release the PTT switch to listen. The SAT-
PHONE page on the MCDU shows SAT-L or SAT-R)
ANSWERED.
• When you complete the call, do one of these steps to end the
call:
• - Push the related end call switch on the ACP
• - Push the LSK adjacent to END CALL on the MCDU.
Outgoing Calls
THANK YOU!!!
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