COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

If there is any conflicting information, your FCOM shall be the overriding reference.

Q1. Which components of the radio communication system will still be available in the EMER ELEC CONFIG?

A1. The following components of the Radio Communication System would still be available in the EMER. ELEC. CONFIG. :-

(a) VHF 1

(b) RMP 1

(d) F/O ACP

(e) FLT. INTERPHONE

(f) CAPT. LOUDSPEAKER

Q2. Which ECAM is going to be triggered if any push–to–talk {PTT} transmission selector is jammed in transmit position?

{VHF has an alarm to indicate that the microphone is stuck in emission position for more than 30 seconds, an interrupted tone sounds for 5 seconds and the emission is turned off. It gets active once crew releases the PTT P/B and presses again}

A2. The following ECAM warning would be generated in case the PTT transmission selector is jammed in the transmit position :-

VHF 1 (2)(3) EMITTING

HF 1 (2) EMITTING

Aural Warning : SINGLE CHIME

Master Light : MASTER CAUTION

*Flight Phase Inhibit : 3/4/5/7/8

Q3. If CIDS 1+2 FAULT is triggered on ECAM after engine start, what is inoperative in communication system?

A3. CIDS 1+2 FAULT

The above is for crew awareness. The following systems are inoperative :-

(a) Passenger Address

(b) Cabin and Service Interphone

Q4. When GND HF DATALINK is at OVRD, what happens?

A4. On the A320, HF Transmission is inhibited on ground. The GND HF DATALINK P/b located on Overhead panel may override the inhibition.

Q5. Which radio systems are dedicated for ACARS?

A5. VHF 3 is mainly dedicated to ACARS.

Q6. RMP3 is able to control VHF & HF TX/RX through RMP1 and RMP2 even if they are OFF. Is it true?

A6. TRUE.

Q7. The last selected radio freq remains in active window if RMP comes back on line after power off. Is it true?

A7. TRUE.

Q8. How would you recognize a failed RMP, and what actions should be taken? Can all comm. Radios still be tuned from the remaining RMPs?

A8. When an RMP fails :

(a) The affected RMP no longer controls the selected receiver

(b) The frequency displays disappear and the green VHF or HF lights go out.

ACTION

Affected RMP_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ OFF

* One RMP can control all receivers.

> If RMP 1 fails, tune VHF 1 through RMP 3.

> If RMP 2 fails, tune VHF 2 through RMP 3.

> If RMP 3 fails, tune HF 1 through RMP 1, HF 2 through RMP 2.

> If 2 RMP’s fail, tune all receivers through the remaining RMP.

In case of a frozen RMP, it can be evidenced by the impossibility to interchange the ACTIVE and STBY radio navigation or communication frequencies.

In order to recover the normal operation of the RMP, all the RMP’s have to be reset, as the problem on one RMP can be due to another RMP.

PROCEDURE

All the RMP’s have to be reset, one after the other.

On The RMP Control Panel

-ON/OFF Switch . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .OFF

Wait 5 seconds then,

-ON/OFF Switch. . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . ON

Q9. What is the meaning of SEL light?

A9. The SEL indicator light glows white on both RMP’s when a transceiver normally associated with one RMP is tuned by another :-

(a) VHF 1 tuned by RMP 2 or RMP 3.

(b) VHF 2 tuned by RMP 1 or RMP 3.

Q10. If you tune HF2 from RMP1, will the SEL light be on? If yes, then on which RMPs?

A10. YES. The SEL light will be “on” on both RMP’s.

Q11. Mechanic will communicate with the cockpit crew with the help of service interphone jack during Engine Start in “Start Valve not Opening Procedure”.

Which transmission key on the ACP will be selected?

Which reception key on the ACP will be selected?

A11. Transmission key selected on ACP –> MECH.

Reception key selected on ACP –> INT. knob.

Q12. What is the use of switching ON of the SVCE INT OVRD p/b s/w? Who can communicate through the service interphone system?

A12. When SVCE INT OVRD P/b s/w is switched ON, communication is possible even when the landing gear is not compressed. The ‘ON’ light is WHITE.

Ground Personnel can communicate with the Flight Crew.

Communication is possible between the following channels through the Service Interphone System :-

(a) Flight crew and the Service Interphone Jacks.

(b) Flight Attendant stations and the Service Interphone Jacks.

Q13. ATT legend on ACP flashes green and buzzer sounds for a call from cabin crew member. The ATT light goes off after 60 seconds if it is not reset. Is it true?

A13. TRUE.

Q14. What are the indications in the cockpit and cabin, when EMER CALL is initiated from cabin to cockpit? How to reset it?

A14. For an emergency call from the cabin to the cockpit :-

-> The WHITE ‘ON’ light and Amber ‘CALL’ light flash.

-> The Amber ‘ATT’ lights flash on the ACP’s.

-> Three long buzzers sound in the cockpit ( Inhibited during T/O and LDG ).

In the CABIN :-

“EMERGENCY CALL” is displayed on the AIP.

The system resets when the Attendant hangs up the relevant handset.

Q15. What are the indications in the cockpit and cabin when EMER CALL is initiated from cockpit to cabin? How will it reset?

A15. When EMER. CALL initiated from Cockpit to Cabin :-

IN CABIN

–> Pink light flashes at all Area Call panels. EMERGENCY CALL appears on all Attendant Indication Panels.

High-Low chime (repeated 3 times) sounds through all loudspeakers.

IN COCKPIT

–> ON Light flashes White for an EMER. CALL from Cockpit to Cabin.

–> CALL Light flashes Amber for an EMER. CALL from Cockpit to Cabin..

Q16. If you want to receive DME audio navigation signal associated with ILS, LS p/b on FCU has also to be selected. Is it true?

A16. TRUE.

Q17. Is it possible to switch off aural alert and voice messages using the loudspeaker knob?

A17. Loudspeaker volume knob adjusts the level for radio communications. This knob does not control the loudness of aural alert and voice messages.

Q18. If a PA announcement has to be made with the help of cockpit handset, no action is required on ACPs….true?

A18. TRUE.

Q19. The F/O’s ACP has failed, what are the required actions?

A19. The crew can switch to the third ACP if ACP 1 or ACP 2 fails. So, when ACP 2 fails, the crew can switch to ACP 3. This can be done through the AUDIO SWITCHING Panel. The knob has 3 positions :-

(a) NORM : Each crew member uses his dedicated communication equipment.

(b) CAPT 3 : The pilot uses his acoustic equipment and the third occupant’s ACP.

When the crew does this, it takes away the third occupant’s access to the acoustic equipment.

‘AUDIO 3 XFRD’ appears in green on the ECAM MEMO display.

Q20. F/O’s RMP has failed. What are the implications?

A20. There are two RMPs on the center pedestal and the third on the overhead panel. Each RMP can control any VHF or HF transceiver. RMP 1 and 2 are connected directly to all VHF and HF transceivers, whereas RMP 3 is connected to them via RMP 1 and 2. RMPs are connected together so that each RMP is updated to the selections made on other RMPs. Thus on failure of the F/O’s RMP, he can still use RMP 3 to control any VHF/ HF Transceiver.

Q21. What are the EMER EVAC indications in the cockpit and in the cabin when initiated from cockpit?

A21. EMER EVAC initiated from Cockpit :-

IN COCKPIT

On Overhead : COMMAND P/b

ON : (a) EVAC light flashes Red.

(b) Horn sounds.

IN CABIN

(a) EVAC lights flash at FWD and AFT attendant panels.

(b) Evacuation tone sounds.

Q22. What are the EMER EVAC indications in the cockpit and in the cabin when initiated from cabin with CAPT & CAPT / PURS Selector in CAPT position?

A22. When the EMER EVAC command is initiated from the cabin with the CAPT & CAPT/PURS selector in CAPT position, only the cockpit horn sounds for 3 seconds.

Q23. How is CVR energized?

A23. CVR is energized automatically :

(a) On the Ground during the first 5 minutes after the Aircraft electrical network is energized.

(b) On the Ground with one engine running.

* On the ground, the crew can energize the CVR manually by pressing the GND CTL P/b.

Q24. How long is the CVR recording time?

A24. The CVR recording time is the last 2 hours.

Q25. For CVR testing, what should be the position of the Parking Brake?

A25. The Parking Brake should be ON.

Q26. How will you do the test for CVR ?

A26. To do the test for CVR :-

— RCDR GND CTL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ON

In order to perform the test, ensure that the Parking Brake is on

— LOUDSPEAKER VOLUME KNOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OFF (BOTH SIDES)

— ACP INT/RAD SWITCH (CAPT or F/O). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .SET to INT

— INTERPHONE VOLUME RECEPTION KNOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RELEASE

Turn up the volume to maximum

— CVR TEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PRESS AND MAINTAIN

An audio test signal, and a brief repetitive audio signal every 4 seconds,

should be heard through the loudspeakers. Once this is done, talk through

the handmike, ensure that your voice is heard on the loudspeakers, and

only then release the CVR test pushbutton.

Note– Only the handmike, not the boomset, should be used to carry out the

test as the audio signal must be heard on the loudspeakers.

— The flight crew may also hear an acoustic feedback during the test.

The test is still valid if this acoustic feedback is heard.

Q27. The Oxygen mask microphone activates when the mask is withdrawn from its stowage; however, when the mask is no longer required, how is its microphone de-activated?

A27. On the STOWAGE BOX for the Fixed Oxygen System for the Cockpit, pressing the RESET control slide, after the oxygen mask has been used, cuts off the oxygen, and the mask microphone.

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