1. What is SELCAL? What are the advantages of SELCAL?
SELCAL stands for SELECTIVE CALLING, which works on HF, using which a ground station can
call any specific aircraft using a unique identification.
Advantage
a. A specific aircraft can be communicated uniquely
b. No need to monitor channel continuously
c. No interference from other transmissions
2. Which all letters are used to assign SELCAL?
A through S, excluding I, N and O.
3. Explain the basic working of a radio receiver?
A radio receiver uses an antenna to capture radio waves, processes those waves to extract
only those waves that are vibrating at the desired frequency, extracts the audio signals,
converts to electrical signals and gives desired output.
4. What is a simple and duplex communication system?
Simplex mode is a uni-directional communication. In, this the sender can only transmit
information but cannot receive it.
Full duplex mode is a two-way directional communication simultaneously. In this, the sender
can transmit as well receive information simultaneously.
5. a. What are various elements of ILS?
b. What are locators and markers?
Elements of ILS
a. Localizer - Provides azimuth guidance during the approach.
b. Glide Path - Provides vertical guidance during the approach
c. Markers – reporting progress along the glide-path to the pilot of the landing aircraft.
(i) Outer marker (OM): Located 3 ½ to 6 NM from the threshold
(ii) MIDDLE MARKER (MM): Located 0.5 to 0.8 NM from the threshold
Locators and markers
a. S
b. Markers – reporting progress along the glide-path to the pilot of the landing aircraft.
(i) Outer marker (OM): Located 3 ½ to 6 NM from the threshold
(ii) MIDDLE MARKER (MM): Located 0.5 to 0.8 NM from the threshold
6. What is DVOR and how it is different from VOR?
A DVOR (Doppler VHF Omni Directional Range) is a short/medium-range radio navigation
system used to aid aircraft in determining their flight position and direction in relation to
their destination using VHF (Very High Frequency) signals between 108.00 to 117.95 MHz
sent from a radio beacon.
DVOR provides improved signal quality and accuracy compared to CVOR at demanding
locations, removing sight errors, where the geographical conditions are difficult, using the
Doppler effect.
7. Explain the various properties of the following frequency bands with their advantages and
disadvantages?
a. VHF – (30-300 MHz) Short range communication
b. HF – (3-30 MHz) Long range communication
c. VLF – (3-30 KHz) Nil
8. What is modulations? What are the types of modulations? How is modulation achieved?
Modulation is the process of superimposing a low-frequency signal on a high-frequency
carrier signal.
Types –
a. Amplitude Modulation
b. Frequency Modulation
c. Phase Modulation
Modulation is achieved by varying one or more properties of a periodic waveform, called the
carrier signal, with a separate signal called the modulation signal that typically contains
information to be transmitted.
9. What is fading? Why is fading prevalent in HF communication?
Fading is the attenuation of transmitted signal properties at receiving end.
In HF, due to the varying height of the reflecting layers at sunrise and sunset the sky waves
received on ground don’t reach the same spot resulting in varying signal strength.
10. Calculation of frequency given the wavelength and vice-versa.
1
f=
λ
11. Draw the block diagram of radio transmitter.
12. What is MWARA & RDARA?
These are HF stations. In India, it operates on Single Side Band (SSB).
MWARA (Major World Air Route Area) – All international flight inside or outside country
operated in it. Divided into 31 networks
a. MID (Middle East) – for aircrafts flying north-west of country
b. SEA (South East Asian) – for aircrafts flying south-east of country
c. INO (Indian Ocean) – for aircrafts flying over Indian Ocean
RDARA (Regional & Domestic Air Route Area) – All domestic flight operated in it. Divided into
5 networks
a. North RDARA – Delhi
b. South RDARA – Chennai
c. East RDARA – Kolkata
d. West RDARA – Mumbai
e. North-East - Guwahati
13. What is NOTAM?
NOTAM or Notice to Air Missions are notices distributed by means of telecommunication
containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any
aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential
to personnel concerned with flight operations.
14. Explain types of NOTAMs?
Series A info of changes/unserviceability of aeronautical facilities lasting more than 2hrs
Series B info of changes/unserviceability of aeronautical facilities lasting more than
30mins but less than 2hrs
Series C info of changes/unserviceability of aeronautical facilities concerning domestic
flights only
Series D info of changes/unserviceability of aeronautical facilities concerning military-
controlled airfields
Series G Info affecting aircraft operations in general
15. What are NOTAM codes?
The NOTAM code is a comprehensive description of information contained in NOTAM.
All NOTAM code groups contain five letters. All NOTAM code start with Q to distinguish
them from radio call signs.
The first letter, Q, indicates that it is a code abbreviation for use when composing NOTAM.
The second and third letters indicate subject, and
the fourth and fifth letters, denote the status or condition of the subject reported upon.
16. What is METAR?
17. s