VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range RMA-90
Distance Measuring Equipment RMD-90
Purpose
Azimuth radio beacon VOR (RMA-90) is the ground equipment of azimuth aircraft navigation system of meter radio wave range with VOR format of signals, and is recommended by ICAO as major short-range navigation facility at air route or as supplementary facility for civil aircraft approach and landing.
Radio beacon DME/N (RMD-90) represents ground equipment of distance measuring aircraft navigation system with DME/N format of signals, which is defined by ICAO documents as major short-range navigation facility at air route and airdrome area.
VOR (RMA-90) is intended for generating in airspace navigation signals, that contain information of azimuth of any coverage zone point relatively radio beacon installation site, and for generating of the radio beacon identification signals.
DME/N (RMD-90) is intended for generating in airspace navigation signals of DME/N format that include information on the distance from the radio beacon installation site to any point in its coverage zone and for generating of the radio beacon identification signals.
Facilities and equipment of the radio beacon are placed at a site in the VOR (RMA-90)
azimuth radio beacon control room (if collocated) or in a permanent heated space.
VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) and Its Capabilities
VOR radio beacon beams in the limits of its coverage zone navigational signals,
containing information of azimuth, identification signal with the radio beacon distinctive identification and can also beam RTS signals.
Airborne equipment receives and processes signals of radio beacon and output information to pilot or to automated control system.
The system ensures receiving the following information onboard aircraft:
- aircraft azimuth, i.e. angle between North direction and "beacon to aircraft" direction;
- aircraft deviation relatively predicted course line (situation line);
- flight direction relatively radio beacon, "to" or "from" it;
- distinctive identification of the radio beacon;
- voice massages.
Situation of an aircraft can be found at simultaneous receiving of two VOR signals by airborne equipment.
Map and knowledge of the radio beacon location are necessary for this.
VOR can be combined with distance measuring radio beacon of DME/N type.In this case if there is proper
airborne distance measuring equipment at an aircraft, it is necessary to have one integrated VOR/DME radio
beacon to define aircraft location in polar co-ordinate system "azimuth - distance".
Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and Its Capa-bilities
The system ensures receiving the following information onboard aircraft:
- distance (sloping distance) from aircraft to radio beacon site;
- distinctive identification of the radio beacon.
Distance measuring radio beacon can be installed jointly with azimuth radio beacon VOR (RMA) or can be used independently in DME-DME network.
In this case data of aircraft position relatively radio beacon installation site are provided onboard in two distances measurement system, that allows solving problems of enroute air navigation as well as at aerodrome area.
VOR/DME Design Description
Control room is designed to be placed in container, specifically made installation of major facilities as well as devices ensure appropriate climate conditions inside control room.
Facilities placed in control room include RMA cabinet, RMD cabinet, and input panel. Facilities that ensure normal operation conditions of VOR/DME and operational staff, consists of air conditioner, two heaters and five lighting lamps.
RMA cabinet is designed in standard case. On a right-hand sidewall of the cabinet on the outside HF amplifier channel is placed, covered by protective casing. Cabinet has six equal compartments. In the first lower compartment two rectifiers are placed, in the other compartments sections with guides are placed, in which cut-in cells represent functional units are installed. RMD cabinet is made in standard case. On a right-hand sidewall of the cabinet on the outside all devices that form power amplifier and HF channel are placed, covered by protective casing.Cabinet has six standard compartments by its height, where all functional units are installed.
VOR/DME Technical Specifications VOR/DME Basic parameters and technical specifications meet to ICAO requirements and recommendations.
In VOR (RMA) and DME (RMD) cabinets 100% "cold" equipment backup is stipulated for generation
of modulating signals, modulation and amplification facilities, HF channel, and signal check and control facilities.
Transition to standby facilities is automatic.
Transition time is not more than 10 sec.
Time of turning on operation of the radio beacon after it is prepared for work is not more than 2 min.
Control of VOR/DME can be local or remote.
Remote control is carrying out by wire (telephone) communication line with using of RC unit at the distance from the radio beacon 0,5 to 10 km. Lighting and sound signaling about VOR/DME condition is stipulated by information panels, placed up to 500 m from RC unit.The VOR/DME system is not requires of constant attendant staff presence.
Thermo adjustment system maintains keeping of air temperature inside control room in the limits of 5 to 40 °C
Main Technical Specifications of VOR (RMA-90) |
| Coverage: |
| — In horizontal plane | 0 to 360 degrees |
| — In vertical plane (relatively sight plane surface) | |
| from below | not more than 3 degrees |
| from above | not less than degrees |
| — On distance: |
| at altitude 12000 m | not less than 300 km |
| at altitude 6000 m (at half power) | less than 100 km |
| Field strength at edge of coverage range, micro V/m Polarization | not less than 90 |
| Polarization | horizontal |
| Azimuth error in points at the distance of 28m from antenna centre | not more than 1 degrees |
| Frequency of operation channel (carrier oscillations), one of discrete values in the range | 108,100-117,975 MHz with spacing of 50 kHz |
| Carrier oscillations frequency deviation | ±0,002 % Carrier |
| Carrier oscillations power (adjustable) | 20 to 100 W |
| Dimensions and weight of RMA cabinet | 496 x 588 x 1724 mm; < 200 kg |
| RMA antenna height | 2770 mm |
| Diameter of the RMA antenna screen | 5000 mm |
| RMA antenna weight |
| — without screen | 130 kg |
| — with screen | 600 kg |
Main Technical Specifications of DME (RMD-90) |
| Coverage: |
| — In horizontal plane | 0 to 360 degrees |
| — In vertical plane from above | not less than 40 degrees |
| — On distance: | 0 to 360 |
| at altitude 6000 m | not less than 200 km |
| at altitude 12000 m | not less than 260 km |
| Polarization | vertical |
| Error in distance measurement due to radio beacon, for 95 % of measurements | not more than +75 pm |
| Frequency of active channel | one of discrete values (with step of 1 MHz) |
| — Receiving | at the range 1025-1150 MHz |
| — Transmitting | at the range 962-1213 MHz |
| Frequency deviation of carrier oscillations | not more than ±0,002 % |
| Power of radio impulse | not less than 500 W |
| Number of airplanes monitored simultaneously | up to 100 |
| Dimensions and weight of RMD cabinet | 1700 x 496 x 678 mm; < 240 kg |
| Dimensions and weight of RMD antenna | 2180 x 260 mm, < 18 kg |
Main Technical Specifications of VOR/DME (RMA-90/RMD-90) |
| Inner dimensions and weight of control room | 2000 x 3000 x 2000 mm, 2500 kg |
| Outer overall dimensions of the VOR/DME system (height x diameter) | 8150 x 5000 mm |
| Power Supply: |
| — Main and reserve network | 220 V (187...264 V), 50 Hz (47...63 Hz) |
| — Operational time from UPS | not less than 30 minutes |
| VOR/DME consumed power (at thermo adjustment system is on) | not more than 3000 VA |
| major radio beacon equipment consumed power | not more than 500 VA |
| Operating Conditions Equipment inside the control room |
| — Temperature of ambient air | minus 10 to +50 °C |
| Equipment outside the control room |
| — Temperature of ambient air | minus 50 to +50 °C |
| — Wind load at wind speed up to | 50 m/s |
| Reliability |
| — MTBF | not less than 5 000 h |
| — Average lifetime | 80 000 h |
| — Life cycle | 15 years |
| — Average restore time | 30 minutes |
1996—2012 Azimut