Course detail

Radio Navigation I

FSI-DRNAcad. year: 2025/2026

The subject presents the first part of the (EU) Doc. 1178/2011, 062 (Radionavigation I) themes. It contents: Introduction to basic principles of radio technology and propagation of electromagnetic waves. Airborne doppler navigator. Radio navigation equipment (radio direction finders & compasses, radio beacons, radio approach & landing systems). Aeronautic ground primary pulse radars. Aeronautic airborne weather radar used in civil aircraft. Passive radars.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Miroslav Červenka, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Aerospace Engineering (LÚ)

Entry knowledge

High school level knowledge of mathematics and physics is demanded.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Presence of 100% at excercises and the final credit test evaluation of 75% are required.The course-unit 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.
The examination is of written & oral form.
Classification fulfils ETCS rules.

Lectures and exercises are realized by means of audio-visual method and therefore student´s presence is necessary.
Missed lectures & exercises can be compensated in a very limited extend only by personal consultations with the lecturer or by a selfstudy under the lecturer´s personal supervision.

Aims

Students will be acquainted with the purpose, use, operational principles, and with main parts of the basic kinds of currently used & future radio-navigation equipment.
Students should well comprehend the possibilities of practical exploitation in take-off, track flight, and landing operations of the equipment.
Students will be acquainted with function and practical use of basic kinds of board radio-navigation equipment and their output information indications at the end of the I-st part of the course (Radionavigation I).
Students will gain knowledge of the contents of relevant CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, Oxford 2020, Radio Navigation.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Aviationexam.com, JAA/EASA-FCL, 062 Radio Navigation, Edition 2013. (EN)
EASA ATPL (A) Theory Training: Radio Navigation. 7th Edition. United Kingdom: Bristol Groundschool International Limited, 2019. ISBN 978-1-912679-28-7. (EN)
EASA ATPL Ground Training Series: Radio Navigation. Book No 11, EASA-First Edition, Revised for NPA29. United Kingdom: CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, 2020. (EN)
Kayton, M.; Fried,W.R.: Avionics Navigation Systems, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1997, second edition. (EN)
KULČÁK a kol.: Učebnice pilota vrtulníku II, CERM, ISBN 978-80-7204-638-6, Brno 2009. (CS)
Vosecký, S.: Radionavigace - učební texty pro teoretickou přípravu dopravních pilotů dle předpisu JAR-FCL-1(062 00), akademické nakladatelství CERM, s.r.o., Brno 2006. (CS)

Recommended reading

GROVES, P.D.: Principles of GNSS, Inertial, And Multisensor Integrated Navigation Systems, ISBN - 13:978 - 1 - 58053 - 255 - 6, USA, BOSTON/LONDON ARTECH HOUSE 2008. (EN)
VOSECKÝ, S. a kol.: Základy leteckých navigačních zařízení I a II, učebnice Univerzity obrany, Brno 1988. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-PRP-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Miroslav Červenka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Introduction - repetition of previous knowledge (prerequisite: physics; electro –; radio –;).
2. Propagation of radio waves in Earth´s atmosphere.
3. Application of Doppler phenomenon to aeronautic navigation (GS; drift; Doppler radar).
4. VHF ground direction finders (VDF).
5. Ground omnidirectional beacon (NDB); airborne automatic radio direction finder (ADF).
6. Ground directional beacons (VOR, DVOR).
7. Aeronautic approach system (ILS).
8. Aeronautic landing system (MLS).
9. RADAR – fundamentals of radar technology (principles of pulse technique; kinds of radars).
10. Aeronautical surveillance primary pulse radars.
11. Airborne weather radar (AWR).
12. Passive radars (TDOA method; VERA, TAMARA) 
13. A reserve - consultations, exercises, credit test.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Miroslav Červenka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1.Electrical signals - parameters, modulations, mixing).
2.Wave propagation in different frequency bands (troposphere, ionosphere, reflections). 
3.Doppler Navigator operational principle.
4.ADF measurement. Kinds of indication.
5.Radio-compass - operation principles, indication. 
6.VOR operation. Airborne indicators.
7.DVOR, PVOR, TVOR - principles of operation.
8.ILS operational principles, use and indication.
9.MLS operation principles, use, refracted trajectories, system accuracy.
10.Radars - principle of operation.
11.ATC and airborne radars - operation, output information.
12.A reserve - consultations, exercise.
13.The course-unit credit test.