Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment

1. Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment Airmanship Knowledge for Air CadetsLearning Outcome 1Know types of airfield operations used for the control of aircraft Revision 2.00

2. Contents Control Towers Controllers Communication Systems Visual Communications RADAR Radio Aids

3. Introduction On RAF Airfields all movements of aircraft, both on the ground and in the air are monitored by Air Traffic Control (ATC)

4. 1. Control Towers

5. The Control Tower Is always in a prominent position in the aircraft manoeuvring area Houses electronic and radio equipment May have a Bird Control Unit (BCU)

6. The size and design of Air Traffic Control Towers vary considerably.

7. 2. Controllers

8. Aerodrome Controller Is in charge of movements: On the ground In the air Is sometimes called: Airfield Controller Local Controller

9. Approach Controller The Approach Controller controls aircraft: departing the airfield making instrument approaches Uses Radar displays, RT and landline communications

10. Runway Controller For more effective control a Runway Controller may be used at airfields with a lot of take-offs and landings The Runway Controller is in direct contact with Air Traffic Controller

11. The Runway controller can refuse aircraft permission to move onto the runway, land or take-off in some circumstances

12. For example the Runway Controller might: Prevent an aircraft from landing with its undercarriage retracted by firing a REDflare. Stop an aircraft from taking-off which had for example a panel unlocked or a fuel leak, by showing a steady RED on the signalling lamp.

13. The Runway Controller will also: Warn vehicles or aircraft on the ground to move clear of the landing area, by showing RED flashes on the signalling lamp Give permission to take-off, with a steady GREENon the signalling lamp

14. 3. Commnication Systems

15. Communication Systems Good Communications are essential to Air Traffic Control

16. Swift and accurate contact is achieved through the use of: Special Telephones Tele-Talk Systems Radio Telephony (RT) (Ground To Air) Uses VHF and UHF to talk to aircraft and vehicles VHF and UHF provide clear lines of communication Each airfield and its section have their own frequencies

17. 4. Visual Communications

18. Visual Communications • 1. Stationary Object Hazard • 2. Bad Ground Markers 0.61 metres squared

19. 3. Helicopter Operating Areas: • The ‘H’ is 4 metres high by 2 metres across • It may also have a box around the ‘H’ • Sited well clear of fixed wing aircraft

20. 5. RADAR

21. RADAR Stands For: RAdio Detection And Ranging

22. 1. A RADAR system consists of a transmitter and a receiver 2. A short pulse energy is transmitted from an aerial and the receiver “listens” for an echo

23. 3. The receiver detects which reflections are from aircraft and it determines their position, direction of travel and speed 4. This information is displayed through a cathode ray tube onto a screen. In this way radar has become the “eyes” of air traffic control

24. Radar Aids The two main radar aids likely to be seen at Royal Air Force airfields are: Surveillance Radar Precision Approach Radar (PAR)

25. Surveillance Radar Is used both to monitor air traffic passing through an area and as an airfield approach aid It enables the controller to locate an aircraft and direct it to a position and height near the airfield

26. Precision Approach Radar The Controller has two screens: for the aircraft’s elevation (height) for azimuth (left and right), relating to the approach path

27. Using the Precision Approach Radar, the Controller is able to pass instructions by RT to the pilot to guide the aircraft down the correct glide slope towards the touch-down point This procedure is called a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA)

28. Ground Controlled Approach

29. Precision Approach Radar PAR 2000 Radar

30. 6. Radio Aids

31. Radio Aids The two main radio aids likely to be seen at Royal Air Force airfields are: Digital Resolution Direction Finding (DRDF) Instrument Landing System (ILS)

32. Digital Resolution Direction Finding (DRDF) DRDF is a common airfield approach aid It receives a transmission from an aircraft and displays it on a CRT screen as a green line called a “trace” It enables the approach controller to tell the pilot what course to fly to reach the airfield

33. Instrument Landing System (ILS) ILS is a runway approach aid: Fixed transmitters on the ground send out a special pattern of radio signals These define a radio beam that is like a pathway in the sky The pathway leads to the touch-down point on the runway

34. The Instrument Landing System (ILS) transmits 2 frequencies: 1. 90Hz (the aircraft is too high)

35. 2. 150Hz (the aircraft is too low)

36. 3. No noise = the aircraft is on a good glide path

37. Any questions?