Guest H3NAV Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 This question is not aimed at any particular model of aircraft. I would like to know if DME indications during an MLS approach are received through the TACAN or by a seperate internal MLS component. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BC Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 TACAN isn't part of the MLS hardware. There is a DME transmitter (DME/P actually) collocated with the azimuth transmitter. Section 6.7 of 11-217 will answer all your MLS questions. http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af...man11-217v1.pdf 6.7.6. MLS Precision Distance Measuring Equipment (DME/P). The MLS DME/P functions in the same way as the DME described in the TACAN section of this manual. DME/P accuracy within 7 NM of the station has been improved to be consistent with the accuracy provided by the MLS azimuth and elevation stations. The DME/P is an integral part of the MLS. [ 02. August 2006, 19:51: Message edited by: BC ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest H3NAV Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Thanks for the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerkDerka Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 The MLS was designed to be a self-contained (DME included), cheap, and portable precision approach NAVAID. They figured it would be huge and all airports would eventually have one. This was before the ILS was the standard and places like DFW, SFO, etc. were the only places you were likely to find one. So most airports started installing ILSs because they're more reliable and rendered the MLS useless with the expection of sporadic military use. HD [ 02. August 2006, 20:44: Message edited by: HerkDerka ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mambo Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Weren't those supposed to be used on LZ's? I thought that was why the military had them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Originally posted by Mambo: Weren't those supposed to be used on LZ's? I thought that was why the military had them. There are MMLS systems, Mobile MLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerkDerka Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Originally posted by Mambo: Weren't those supposed to be used on LZ's? I have no idea. MLS is like TACAN, it was designed by the military to be used at FOB airfields as a cheap, transportable navaid. HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SpectrePilot Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Another relic of the Cold War Eastern-bloc invasion plan and its associated tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SATCOM Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 We have two MMLS's in my STS unit. We have set them up all over OEF/OIF. Personally, if I can't carry it on my back, I don't want it. It's an intermediate-AZ/LZ NAVAID, not meant to be a first-there asset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KoolKat Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I know the range, how to ID the thing, the defualt modes, why not to put the thing in manual mode, where to look for the warning flags if I lose the signal, some queep numbers on the elevation and azmuith ranges, where the antennas are in my airplane, how far off it can be non-computed, and the two places they put them... But, I've never actually flown an appraoch on one. Now that I think about it, I've never had anyone ask any one of those numbers, more less mention an MLS. What a waste of brain bytes. Thanks Little Rock! But, the answer I've been told is the one Mambo gave. Although, he may have been the one that said that, who knows. H3Nav? Did someone piss in your wheaties recently asking you about MLS shit that you didn't know? That's pretty brutal. BENDY [ 03. August 2006, 09:28: Message edited by: Bender ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmeg130 Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 MMLS was going to be our way in to all the FOBs in obscure parts of the world, but then something else happened...everybody got GPS and uses that for approaches. Cheap and works everywhere. Like SATCOM said, they can still throw it up and suddenly there's an IFR approach (for everybody with an MLS receiver). But not many places to train on it -- although if you have trouble flying a precision approach, you have bigger issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champ Kind Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Originally posted by dmeg130: MMLS was going to be our way in to all the FOBs in obscure parts of the world, but then something else happened...everybody got GPS and uses that for approaches. Cheap and works everywhere. Isn't there a remote possibility that the GPS system could go offline? If so, it wouldn't hurt to still be trained on a self-sustaining, portable precision approach system, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C17Driver Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 I'm not sure about other's, but in the past year I've had to fly an MLS approach during a checkride (annual instrument/qual) and on a REC ride prior to my operational mission evaluation. So while MLS's aren't used much, Pilots' of aircraft that have the required equipment should have a basic knowledge of how to fly them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 A peek is worth a thousand cross-checks. Batman [ 07. August 2006, 17:25: Message edited by: Batman ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead Last Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Every time I try to fly the damn thing at LRF on a pro sortie I always back it up with the ILS because the damn thing isn't notam'd out but it never works, and the one at DYS did the same thing to me on my Qual Check. Like NDB's I wish they would just go away!!! cheers folks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champ Kind Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 I guess you could always duct tape a Hot Pocket to the nose... At least you'd get some use out of the thing then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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