Subelement K: K – Aircraft— Topic 68: Distance Measuring Equipment
Question 3-68K6
Element 3 (GROL)The majority of airborne Distance Measuring Equipment systems automatically tune their transmitter and receiver frequencies to the paired __ / __ channel.
Explanation
Airborne Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) systems are designed for convenience and integration with primary navigation aids. When a pilot selects a specific VHF frequency for a **VOR (VHF Omni-directional Range)** or an **LOC (Localizer)**, the aircraft's DME interrogator automatically tunes its UHF transmitter and receiver to a corresponding paired frequency.
This pairing ensures that the DME provides slant range distance to the same navigation facility (or a co-located DME transponder) that the pilot is tracking for bearing (VOR) or lateral guidance (LOC). Marker beacons provide distinct position indications and are not used for DME pairing. Glideslope frequencies are paired with LOC frequencies, but the DME's *primary tuning trigger* comes from the selected VOR or LOC frequency, not the glideslope itself.
Related Questions
3-68K4 What is the main underlying operating principle of an aircraft’s Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)?3-68K5 What radio navigation aid determines the distance from an aircraft to a selected VORTAC station by measuring the length of time the radio signal takes to travel to and from the station?3-69K1 All directions associated with a VOR station are related to:3-69K2 The rate that the transmitted VOR variable signal rotates is equivalent to how many revolutions per second?3-69K3 What is the frequency range of the ground-based Very-high-frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) stations used for aircraft navigation?