Airplane Radio

Posted on | November 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

Airplane Radio

How do airplane radios work?

I understand how they function, but how does a pilot trigger the radio when he wants to talk? Where is the button(s) to send what he's saying? And also, how would a pilot be able to talk to the passengers on a big airline jet?

Almost all airplanes equipped with radios have a handheld microphone with a push to talk button (PTT) on it. In some airplanes, that's the only way to transmit on the radio.

Most airplanes also have a push to talk button located on the left handle of the yoke for the pilot, or on the right handle of the copilot's yoke. The pilot or copilot activates the transmit feature of the radio(s) that is active by depressing the switch and speaking into his or her headset microphone. Some yoke mounted PTT switches are mounted to be used by the thumb, others are mounted to be used by the forefinger. That depends on the manufacturer of the yoke.

Fighter aircraft as you know, have a stick instead of a yoke. The PTT buttons on a modern fighter are normally mounted on the inboard side of the right engine power lever (throttle) if equipped with two engines and on the inboard side of the power lever if it's a single engine aircraft. Fighters usually have three transmit buttons, Comm 1, (upper) Comm 2, (lower) and BOTH, (middle).

Of course, that also varies with aircraft manufacturer.

Some airplanes aren't equipped with radios, and if the pilot desires, he or she will carry a handheld radio, which is activated by a PTT switch just like talking on a walkie-talkie.

Most airplanes have some form of audio panel. Bigger aircraft like corporate jets and airliners have one for each pilot. The audio panel is mostly just switches to activate whatever radio or communication system is desired. If the pilot wishes to talk to the passengers, he would flip the correct switch or push the correct button on the audio panel (that switch or button might be labeled PAX or CABIN or PA, (public address)) and when he pushes the PTT, his voice goes only to the speakers in the passenger cabin.

Here's a photo of a typical audio panel in a small aircraft. A lot of airplanes have the radio stack near the center of the instrument panel so both pilots can reach it, and the audio panel is often at the top of the radio stack. Not every plane is like this one, but this gives you a chance to see what is somewhat typical of many airplanes. Note the pilot knob on the left and the copilot knob on the right.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_oiZBr4D6rB0/R8tYcn5lUNI/AAAAAAAAEbU/qVXBuDW-O0g/100_6937.JPG

You'll see the Comm buttons, Nav buttons, and also the PA (public address) button. Remember, these buttons are not the PTT button, but something on the audio panel has to be 'on' when the pilot wants to talk to or hear someone over the radio, ICS (intercom system), or PA system.

You can also go to Google Images and look up aircraft yoke.

RC Radio Controlled Night flyer airplane LED flight Light ufo sccmas

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Can a portable satellite radio pick up a signal on an airplane?

It should be able to it it can get a "view" of the satellite thru the window or on small aircraft if in the cockpit, however those radios are usually confiscated if found due to possible interference

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