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On this week’s episode of AvTalk, a tale of 3 go arounds. We first visit Chicago, where a Southwest pilot made the quick decision to go around as an unauthorized aircraft crossed the runway. Then we visit San Francisco where an Asiana Airlines A350 descended too low as it approached SFO and went around. And then we end up in Washington DC, where sometimes a go around is just a go around.
Also on this week’s episode, more than two dozen aviation industry groups are banding together to call for increased and regular funding of the FAA. ANA makes a surprise and surprising aircraft order. Russia’s government is passing a law to legalize the production of counterfeit aircraft parts. And it might be possible to spend 11 hours in a 737 MAX this summer thanks to Iberojet.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
- Midway go around ADS-B data + ATC audio
- Asiana low altitude alert and go around
- Industry group letter on FAA funding
- BBC article regarding a death on board
Thank you for listening!
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3 Responses
Hi – great podcasts – I listen to every one.
Analog radios – you’ve probably got a hundred responses like mine 🙂
Just need to clarify the issue of the technology of the VHF and UHF eadios used in aviation – the reason you can get stepped on is simply that aviation channels use simplex communications, not duplex. Most analog radio communication systems use duplex channels – i.e. different channels for each direction – just like a phone, both ends can speak at once and both ends hear the other party. In the case of aviation, the same channel is used each way – e.g. both ends transmit on for instance 123.0MHz. If you hit your PTT button to talk, you will not hear anyone else transmitting as your radio switches from receive mode to transmit mode. However, everyone speaking on that channel at the same time will be heard by everyone else who hasn’t got their PTT button pressed at that instant. Obviously that’s not ideal as you will hear multiple transmissions all over one another. The only person missing out on all those conversations is anyone with their finger on their PTT button.
The reason aviation use simplex is probably just historical to conserve channels, but it also makes the radios very simple – if you use duplex transmission you need much more complex filtering (in the past that would be bulky cavity filters) as you need to isolate the high power of your transmitter when you hit your PTT button from the very sensitive receiver which would simply be overloaded and not demodulate any desirable signals from distant transmitters. Simplicity means reliability too.
This is the same as analog CB radios – to make radios for tens of dollars they are simplex – no need for any fancy components, but when you press that PTT button all you can hear is your own voice speaking into the mike.
As you noted, critical radio systems such as P25, TETRA, LTE and GSM-R which are all digital give you almost unlimited options to prioritse traffic – perfect for the job but it will never happen.
Thanks heaps – your podcasts make my long road trips and frequent flights much less boring 🙂
Hello!
I’m a new listener and this is my third episode of this podcast I’ve heard so yeah, I’m the One Person Listening TM that hasn’t heard you yet ranting about how common go-arounds are.
Like, I was on a plane once when it happened and the cabin crew did an excellent job in informing us (in the perfect mix of polite and bored tone of voice) that it was a standard procedure, but wow, I hadn’t known they happen THAT frequently.
So, thanks!
*yelling* “WE DON’T KNOW WHO WERE TALKING TO.” ” We apologize in advance for Jason swallowing the microphone.” ha ha ha omg that’s so funny, I LOVE IT!
I love this podcast!