Subelement K: K – Aircraft— Topic 72: Aircraft Antenna Systems and Frequencies
Question 3-72K1
Element 3 (GROL)What type of antenna pattern is radiated from a ground station phased-array directional antenna when transmitting the PPM pulses in a Mode S interrogation signal of an aircraft’s Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) installation?
Explanation
A ground station transmitting a Mode S interrogation signal, including its PPM pulses, operates on a specific frequency. Air traffic control radar beacon interrogations (which include Mode S) are always transmitted on **1030 MHz**. Aircraft replies, conversely, are sent on 1090 MHz.
Furthermore, the question specifies a "phased-array directional antenna." This type of antenna is designed to create a focused, directional beam that can be electronically steered. Ground-based secondary surveillance radars (SSR), including those implementing Mode S, use directional antennas to determine the bearing of aircraft and scan the airspace efficiently.
Therefore, the interrogation signal will be transmitted on 1030 MHz with a directional pattern.
* A) 1090 MHz directional pattern: Incorrect frequency for interrogation.
* B) 1030 MHz omnidirectional pattern: Incorrect pattern for a phased-array directional antenna and typical ground station interrogation.
* C) 1090 MHz omnidirectional pattern: Incorrect frequency for interrogation.
Related Questions
3-71K5 What type of encoding is used in an aircraft’s mode C transponder transmission to a ground station of the Air Traffic Control RADAR Beacon System (ATCRBS)?3-71K6 Choose the only correct statement about an aircraft’s Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) equipment.3-72K2 What type of antenna is used in an aircraft’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) marker beacon installation?3-72K3 What is the frequency range of an aircraft’s Very High Frequency (VHF) communications?3-72K4 Aircraft Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) operate on what frequencies?