Safety Analysis

Antennas

Editorial Staff

Monday, August 24, 2020 at 01:41 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft antennas are prone to various failures, leading to issues such as GPS signal loss, total signal blockage, physical separation, and even cabin pressurization problems.
Common causes include improper installation (e.g., inadequate sealing, un-crimped connectors leading to water intrusion and corrosion) and inherent design flaws.
A critical failure mode involves a single faulty GPS antenna generating an "oscillation signal" that jams all other GPS reception on the aircraft, necessitating improved abnormal procedure guidance and antenna redesign to prevent widespread system outages.

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p>Beechcraft C90 King Air

Antenna Blockage

Editorial Staff