Diseño del blog
In a Nutshell – The Different Types of Aircraft Antennas
Débora de Araújo • Mar 14, 2023
In a Nutshell – The Different Types of Aircraft Antennas
There are several types of antennas on an aircraft fuselage, each serving a different purpose. The location of the antennas can vary depending on the type of antenna and the specific aircraft model. However, some common antennas and their locations on an aircraft are:
Communication Antennas: Used to transmit and receive voice and data communications between the aircraft, ground stations, air traffic control, and other aircraft. Communication antennas can include VHF (Very High Frequency), UHF (Ultra High Frequency), and SATCOM (Satellite Communications) antennas. These antennas are often located on the top or bottom of the aircraft fuselage near the tail section.
Navigation Antennas: Used to receive signals from navigation aids such as VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), DME (Distance Measuring Equipment), and GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites. The navigation antennas help the aircraft determine its position and navigation information. It can be found on the top or bottom of the aircraft fuselage and on the wings or the tail.
Weather Radar Antennas: Used to detect and track weather patterns such as thunderstorms, turbulence, and precipitation. The weather radar antenna sends out a signal that bounces off the weather and returns to the antenna, providing information on the intensity and location of the weather. The weather radar antenna is typically located in the nose cone of the aircraft.
ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) Antennas: Used to receive signals from NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) stations, which are ground-based radio stations emitting continuous signals. The ADF antenna helps the aircraft determine its direction relative to the NDB station. It can be found on the top or bottom of the aircraft fuselage and the tail section.
TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) Antennas: Used to receive signals from other aircraft equipped with TCAS, a system that helps prevent mid-air collisions. The TCAS antenna receives information on the altitude and location of other aircraft, and the system provides the pilot with guidance to avoid a collision. TCAS antennas can be located on the top or bottom of the aircraft fuselage or on the tail section.
These are some of the most common types of antennas found on aircraft fuselages, but there may be others depending on the specific aircraft and its capabilities. The antennas play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations.
It is important to note that the specific location of the antennas can vary significantly between different aircraft models and manufacturers. Some aircraft may have multiple antennas for various functions, while others may have a single, multi-functional antenna.
On May 2, 2024, a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321Neo that had just arrived from Kahului to San Francisco International Airport suffered damage to its left front door. The passengers had all disembarked before the jet bridge collapsed. No injuries were reported. The aircraft was taken out of service. Source: FlightMode Image: A Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge
On April 26, 2024, a Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 performing flight from JFK New York to Los Angeles encountered an issue and promptly decided to return to JFK due to reports of vibrations. The aircraft landed safely. An after-flight inspection revealed that the right-hand overwing emergency slide was missing. The crew, who responded swiftly and effectively, stated that they had received an indication about the emergency slide and that they had heard a sound from that side of the aircraft during the climb out. The location of where the overwing slide could be is still unknown. Source: Aviation Herald Images: JACDEC
On April 26, 2024, an Ethiopian Boeing 787-8 performing a flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Goma, DR Congo, became disabled after landing due to a hydraulic leak that caused the aircraft to lose nose-wheel steering. The aircraft was towed off the runway, and clean-up crews cleaned up the hydraulic fluid. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Source: AvHerald Images: Mafuta Kasongo & Flightradar24
On April 21, 2024, an American Airlines Airbus A321 was involved in an incident at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The aircraft, which was under tow and had no passengers on board, experienced substantial damage when the tug lost control and struck the underside of the fuselage behind the nose gear. No injuries were reported. Source: FlightMode Images: twitter/goodbadugly_ap
On April 24, 2024, an ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-8 performing a flight from Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo Chitose, Japan, experienced a hydraulic fluid leak upon landing, causing its number two Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engine to emit smoke. The aircraft stopped on the runway and shut both engines down. Emergency services responded, and no injuries were reported. The runway was closed until the aircraft was towed off. What caused the hydraulic leak is still unknown. Source: JACDEC, FL360aero, Aviation Herald Images: JACDEC, FL360aero, Aviation Herald
On April 22, 2024, an Aeroflot Airbus A330-300 performing a flight from Yekaterinburg, Russia, to Phuket, Thailand, suffered a severe loss of hydraulic fluid while landing at Phuket International Airport. The aircraft stopped and blocked the runway for over an hour until a tug towed it away. A team cleaned up the hydraulic fluid from the runway, and operations then restarted on the runway. No injuries were reported. What caused the loss of hydraulic fluid is still unknown. Source: FlightMode Images: AOT Phuket
On April 21, 2024, a Safair Boeing 737-800, under the skilled command of its crew, performed a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Despite the unexpected loss of its left-outboard main wheel on departure, the crew demonstrated their professionalism by leveling off at FL220 and burning off fuel before performing a low approach at Johannesburg. The aircraft then finally landed on runway 21R, sustaining damage to its left main landing gear. However, due to the crew's swift and decisive actions, no injuries were reported. Source: AvHerald Images: Twitter/MDN News
On April 17, 2024, an Air Algerie Boeing 737-800 performing a flight from Algiers, Algeria, to Lyon, France, decided to return to Algiers after reaching cruising altitude FL340 because of a cracked outer window pane. The aircraft landed without any incident, and no injuries were reported. Another aircraft was used to take the passengers to Lyon with a 7-hour delay. The cracked window pane aircraft was repaired and returned to service 19 hours later. Source: AvHerald Images: JACDEC
On April 15, 2024, a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 received minor damage at New York JFK Airport when a vehicle from the Gategourment catering service struck the number 1 engine nacelle of the Rolls Royce Trent XWB aircraft which was parked at the time. The aircraft had no passengers and was subsequently taken out of service. No injuries were reported. Source: Aviation Safety Network Image: JACDEC