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  • Author Author: phoenixcomm
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Nexgen: FAA Nav Aid Station Morse Code ID

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Navigation Aids what are they?

 

 

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Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB)

  1. A low or medium frequency radio beacon transmits nondirectional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft properly equipped can determine bearings and “home” on the station. These facilities normally operate in a frequency band of 190 to 535 kilohertz (kHz), according to ICAO Annex 10 the frequency range for NDBs is between 190 and 1750 kHz, and transmit a continuous carrier with either 400 or 1020 hertz (Hz) modulation. All radio beacons except the compass locators transmit a continuous three-letter identification in code except during voice transmissions.
  2. When a radio beacon is used in conjunction with the Instrument Landing System markers, it is called a Compass Locator.
  3. Voice transmissions are made on radio beacons unless the letter “W” (without voice) is included in the class designator (HW).
  4. Radio beacons are subject to disturbances that may result in erroneous bearing information. Such disturbances result from such factors as lightning, precipitation static, etc. At night, radio beacons are vulnerable to interference from distant stations. Nearly all disturbances which affect the Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) bearing also affect the facility's identification. Noisy identification usually occurs when the ADF needle is erratic. Voice, music or erroneous identification may be heard when a steady false bearing is being displayed. Since ADF receivers do not have a “flag” to warn the pilot when erroneous bearing information is being displayed, the pilot should continuously monitor the NDB's identification.

VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR)

  1. VORs operate within the 108.0 to 117.95 MHz frequency band and have a power output necessary to provide coverage within their assigned operational service volume. They are subject to line-of-sight restrictions, and the range varies proportionally to the altitude of the receiving equipment.

I will only be concerned with the three-letter identification code at this time, as this transmission is considered a slant-range which is based on a line of sight using the following formula: Rtopogr = R · cos ε, where ε represents the angle of R or Slant Range and H or Height,  but this will only work if the EARTH WERE FLAT! Or you could use this model (see box): Where you have a line between the center of the antenna and the center of the Earth, this must include the published height of the antenna,  which is bisected by re is defined as the distance between the center of the Earth to the height of the Where H continues to the aircraft.  α is defined as an angle between the center of the antenna to the center of the Earth and re.  Therefore R is the slant range!

 

R2 = re2 + (re + H)2- 2re(re + H) · cos α

which depends on the ratio of:

360° · Rtopogr = α · 2πre

which accounts for a spherical earth.

 

So let's say you are flying at 10k feet and you are headed to Meacham Field in Fort Worth and you have left Addison Airport in Addison Texas and you are on a course of 251.5  degrees  NAV radio is tuned to 115.7 you would be hearing Ranger Vortac, FUZ, and Morse Code three-letter id is:  '..-. ..- --..' . I have a midi file but I can't get there from here!

BTW: At 10,000ft, the horizon at approximately 100nm; At 20,000ft, the horizon at approximately 140nm; At 30,000ft, the horizon at approximately 170nm.

Software:

 

#define      PI 3.14159

float R       // Slant Range

float Re     // Distance from the center of the Earth to the surface along the vector to the aircraft

float H       // A line from the center of the antenna

float a       // The angle between Re and the antenna

 

float square ( float value ) {
     return ( value * value ); }

float slantRange (){
     R = square( Re ) + square ((Re + H)) - 2 * Re * (Re + H) cos( a );
    return square (R); }

 

float Rtopogr ( float R, float H) {

     /* Rtopogr is determined by ε, the angle which is unknown, and Height

      * the Base of the triangle is from the center of the antenna to the spot on the Earth under            * aircraft on the ground

      */

     return ( Rt ); }

float sphericalEarth ( float Rt) {

        float temp;
     temp = a * 2*PI*Re;
return (  360 * Rt )

 

Notes:

  1. The diagram above came from www.radartutorial.eu
  2. Added into to software.
  • in reply to phoenixcomm

    It is all about traveling down memory lane.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to ralphjy

    and you both know that this example DFW Aiport Does not exist! This "short route" goes through the center of the "protected air space above the airport! A lot of small pleasure aircraft do not have GPS! BTW your phone does not count!

  • Back when I was doing Integrated Communications, Navigation, Identification Avionics, I used to know a lot about the various navigation aids used around the world. They are still  useful even in an era where GPS and all of the other satellite sources abound.

     

    One interesting side note, when I was on my Alaskan Cruise back in 1991, I noticed that the ship was zig-sagging as we sailed across the gulf of Alaska. Evidently, the autopilot they used had some issues with keeping on the navigation beacon, so it was over correcting first to starboard, then to port and back again.

     

    DAB

  • Reminds me of my younger days when we would flight test inertial navigation equipment in a Merlin IV twin turboprop.  The pilot would make a low altitude pass over a VOR station so that we could get a good position fix.

  • Hi Cris,

     

    This is very interesting!

    I've sometimes wished there was a good book or netflix series : ) that went over what the radio spectrum is used for, beyond the basics mentioned in physics lessons or one-liners in band plans. I bet it is possible to learn a lot about how the world works today and historically by exploring slices of spectrum. Someone should write a book, exploring different areas of it and what it's used for now, and how it was used in the past. I'd read that : )