Course detail

Radio Navigation II

FSI-ERN Acad. year: 2025/2026 Winter semester

The subject presents the second part of the (EU) Doc. 1178/2011 Radionavigation II themes. Content: Secondary surveillance radar (SSR). Distance – measuring equipment (DME). FANS reccomendations – principles and realization. Space navigation principles (RNAV; RNP). Flight management systems (FMS). Electronic horizontal situation indicator (EFIS; EHSI). Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).  ADS/ADS-B.  PSS (MLAT).

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Supervisor

doc. Ing. Jiří Hlinka, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Aerospace Engineering

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of secondary school mathematics and physics is demanded.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The course-unit credit test is determined by 100% presence at excercises and reqires 75% of correct answers to the test questions at least.  Efficiency of the teaching process is temporarily verified. The credit test comprises both common and detail questions related to the subject matter. Questions similar to those of the ATPL(A) test are also included.
Evaluation of the  final DRN + ERN oral examination fulfils ETCS rules.

Lectures and exercises require attendance.
Missed lectures & exercises can be compensated in a very limited extend only by personal consultations with the lecturer or by a self-study under the lecturer´s personal supervision.

Aims

Students will be acquainted with the purpose, use, operational principles, and main parts of all kinds of currently used & future radio-navigation equipment.
Students will understand the possibilities of practical exploitation in take-off, track flight, and landing operations of the board air navigation equipment at the end of the course.

Students will be acquainted with function and practical use of all kinds of aeronautic radio-navigation and radar equipment and their output information indications at the end of the course.
Students will gain knowledge of the contents of relevant ICAO and EASA informations.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-PRP-P: Professional Pilot, Bachelor's, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hours, compulsory

Syllabus

1. Introduction – Radionavigation I/DRN – review.


2. SSR – operation principles, modes, codes;  SSRmS.                     


3. DME (purpose, use, properties, modes of operation.   


4. RNAV – space navigation systems (Europe; worldwide).


5. EFIS (structure, CDU, symbols, navigation situation displays).          


6. GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo – purpose, use, navigation capability).                                                             


7. GPS – operation principles, signals, codes, services.     


8. GPS – augmentation trends (ABAS, GBAS, SBAS), comparison with GLONASS and Galileo.                             


9. WAAS – operation principles, EGNOS.                       


10. LAAS – operation principles, ways of realization.           


11. PSS (MLAT).                                                                      


12. ADS/ADS-B; typical ATPL(A) test questions.          


13. A backup- consultations, exercise.

Exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Syllabus

1. Radionavigation I – review of the matter;  typical ATPL  examples.


2. SSR – principle of operation (modes A, C).                     


3. SSRmS- interrogations, responses;  mode S target acquisition and tracking (ACP, RCP).                                   


4. DME – operational principles, use in radionavigation;  TACAN and DME/DME applicattions.


5. RNAV – planning & track plotting (typical examples).


6. FMS, EFIS/EHSI – structure, use, data presentations.


7. GNSS – structure, operation and use.                             


8.  GPS, GLONASS, Galileo.


9. GNSS augmentation – growth of integrity (ABAS, GBAS, SBAS).


11.ADS/ADS-B – structure, objectives, use in air nav.


12.Typical ATPL(A) test questions (selected groups). 


13.DRN + ERN consultations.