RFAvionic Systems: Navigational Aids Overview
avionics
navigation
gps
ils
vor
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This page covers various avionic systems used as short-range navigational aids, long-range navigational aids, and approach landing navigational aids.
It includes ADF, NDB, VOR, LORAN, OMEGA, MLS, DME, TACAN, GPS, ALS, VASIS, DNS, INS, IRS, RNAV, VORTAC, ILS, LOC, GS, LOC-DME, MB, DGPS navigational aids etc.
The differences between these avionic systems have been mentioned in the tables below.
Short Range Navigational Aids - ADF, NDB, VOR, DME, TACAN, VORTAC, RNAV
| Short range system | Meaning | Principle | Frequency of operation | System location | RF Wireless World Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADF | Automatic Direction Finder | Provides Aircraft bearing with respect to Ground Station | MF | Located at Aircraft | ADF |
| NDB | Non Directional Beacon | Ground system used as an Automatic Direction Finder. Transmit for bearing purposes | Medium Frequency(MF) | Located at Ground | |
| VOR | VHF Omni Directional Range | Provides Aircraft radial with respect to a Ground Station | VHF | Located at Ground and Aircraft | |
| DME | Distance Measuring Equipment | Provides distance between Aircraft and Ground Station | UHF | located at ground and Aircraft | DME |
| NDB-DME | NDB and DME | GND system with both NDB and DME for bearing and distance purposes | MF/UHF | Located at Ground | |
| VOR-DME | VOR and DME | Ground system with both the VOR and DME for radial and distance purposes | VHF/UHF | Located at Ground | |
| TACAN | Tactical Air Navigation | Provides Aircraft bearing and distance with respect to a GND station | UHF | Located at Ground and Aircraft | TACAN |
| VORTAC | VOR and TACAN | Ground System with both VOR and TACAN for bearing and distance purposes | VHF,UHF | Located at Ground | VORTAC |
| RNAV | Random Navigation or aRea Navigation | Provides Aircraft bearing and distance w.r.t. 3D artificial reference position known as WPT | VHF,UHF,SHF | Located at Aircraft | RNAV |
Long Range Navigational Aids - LORAN-C, OMEGA, INS, DNS, GPS
| Long Range System | Meaning | Principle | Frequency | System Location | RF Wireless World Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LORAN-C | Long Range Navigation Revision C | Provides Aircraft Position Fix-2D | LF | Located at Ground,Aircraft | LORAN |
| OMEGA | Optimized Method for Estimated Guidance Accuracy | Provides Aircraft Position fix -2D | VLF | Located at Ground, Aircraft | OMEGA |
| INS or IRS | Inertial Navigation or Reference System | Provides Aircraft velocity-3D and position fix-3D | - | Located at Aircraft | INS |
| DNS | Doppler Navigation System | Provides Aircraft velocity-3D and position fix-3D | SHF | Located at Aircraft | DNS |
| GPS | Global Positioning System | Provides Aircraft Position fix-3D | UHF | Located at Ground,Aircraft,Outer space | GPS |
Approach Landing Navigational Aids - ALS, VASIS, ILS, LOC, GS, MB, MLS, DGPS
| Approach Landing system | Meaning | Principle | Frequency | System Location | RF Wireless World Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALS | Approach Landing system | Provides visual Aid during landing for IFR precision Aircraft | - | Located at Ground | |
| VASIS | Visual Approach Slope Indicator System | Provides visual aid during landing for VFR and IFR non-precision Aircraft | - | Located at Ground | |
| ILS | Instrument Landing System | Provides Aircraft guidance for straight flight path landing | VHF/UHF | Located at Ground,Aircraft | ILS |
| LOC | Localizer | Provides horizontal guidance during ILS landing | VHF | located at ground,Aircraft | |
| GS | Glideslope | Provides vertical guidance during ILS landing | UHF | located at ground,Aircraft | |
| LOC-DME | LOC and DME | Ground system with both LOC and DME for horizontal guidance during ILS landing and distance purposes | VHF/UHF | located at ground | |
| MB | Marker Beacon | Provides indication that the Aircraft is in a specific location | VHF | located at ground,Aircraft | |
| OM,MM,IM | Outer Marker, Middle Marker, Inner Marker | Provides indication on how far the Aircraft is with respect to the runway threshold | VHF | located at ground,Aircraft | |
| MLS | Microwave Landing System | Provides Aircraft guidance for curved or straight or segmented flight path landing | SHF | located at ground,Aircraft | MLS |
| DGPS | Differential GPS | Ground system used to increase GPS accuracy | LF/MF/UHF | located at ground | DGPS |
