A320 Communications

Question 1

How many VHF radios does the airbus have?

Answer 1

3

Question 2

What is the VHF frequency range?

Answer 2

118.0-136.975

Question 3

Where are the VHF antennas located?

Answer 3

VHF 1 - On top of the fuselage near the front of the aircraft
VHF 2 - Under the fuselage near the rear of the aircraft
VHF 3 - On top of the fuselage toward the rear of the aircraft

Question 4

What’s unique about VHF 3?

Answer 4

VHF 1 and 2 are used exclusively for voice communication. VHF 3 is usually used for ACARS communication but can also be used as an additional voice communication if necessary.

Question 5

What does RMP stand for?

Answer 5

Radio management panel

Question 6

How can you turn on/off an RMP?

Answer 6

But switching the on/off toggle switch

Question 7

When does the “SEL” light illuminate on the RMP’s?

Answer 7

When any RMP is selected to a non-dedicated radio. e.g. When the FO’s RMP is selected to VHF1 or the Captains RMP is selected to VHF 2.

Question 8

What does ACP stand for?

Answer 8

Audio control panel

Question 9

What are the 3 ways you can transmit over the radio?

Answer 9

By pressing the side stick push-to-talk trigger, pressing the int/rad switch to the “rad” position, or pressing the push-to-talk button on the hand microphone.

Question 10

How can ground personal contact the flight deck?

Answer 10

By using the controls in the external power panel

Question 11

Where is the external power panel located?

Answer 11

It is located forward of the nose gear under the fuselage

Question 12

What happens when the “cockpit call” button is pressed on the external power panel? How does the cockpit answer ground personnel?

Answer 12

The “MECH” light flashes on the INT transmission key, and a buzzer sounds. Ground personnel can be contacted by pressing the “INT” transmission key on the ACP, the INT reception knob pushed out, and transmitting like normal through the 3 different transmission methods.

Question 13

What does SELCAL stand for?

Answer 13

SELective-CALling radio system

Question 14

What happens when the aircraft recieves a SELCAL?

Answer 14

The “CALL” light illuminates on the specific radio transmission key on which the request was sent, accompanied by a buzzer.

Question 15

What does it mean when the aircraft receives a SELCAL?

Answer 15

That a ground radio station requests communication

Question 16

How can you get the MECH, ATT, and CALL lights on the ACP transmission keys to turn off after they’ve illuminated?

Answer 16

The MECH and ATT lights will time out after a short period and turn themselves off. The CALL light will not time out and can only be turned off by hitting the reset button. However the MECH and ATT lights can also be turned off with the reset button.

Question 17

What does the VOICE pushbutton on the ACP do?

Answer 17

It is used to inhibit the Morse code identifier signals when monitoring navigation radios, however, the recorded voice navaid identifier is still heard.

Question 18

What can be done if the Captains of FO’s ACP fails?

Answer 18

ACP 3 can be used in lieu of the Captains or FO’s ACP by turning the “AUDIO SWITCHING’ knob located next to ACP 3, to either the Captains or FO’s side.

Question 19

What ECAM message is displayed if the AUDIO SWITCHING knob is turned to either the CAPT or F/O position?

Answer 19

AUDIO 3 XFRD

Question 20

What happens to a 3rd occupants headset when the AUDIO SWITCHING knob is set to either CAPT or F/O?

Answer 20

It becomes unusable

Question 21

When does the oxygen mask microphone become activated?

Answer 21

As soon as the left door of the oxygen mask storage compartment is opened

Question 22

How do you turn off the oxygen mask microphone when no longer in use?

Answer 22

Closing the left door of the oxygen mask compartment and pressing the RESET/TEST button on the left door

Question 23

What controls cabin inter-communications and other cabin functions?

Answer 23

The 2 Cabin Intercommunication Data System (CIDS) computers

Question 24

How many Cabin Intercommunication Data System computers does the Airbus have?

Answer 24

2, but all functions can be performed by just 1 in the event of a failure

Question 25

What ECAM is displayed if both CIDS fail?

Answer 25

COM CIDS 1+2 FAULT

Question 26

What do the CIDS control?

Answer 26

-PA system
-General cabin illumination and signs
-Cargo compartment and lavatory smoke detection
-Emergency evacuation signaling
-Escape slide bottle pressure monitoring
-Vacuum system control function
-Cabin and service interphone systems
-Passenger entertainment systems

Question 27

How many interphone systems are there?

Answer 27

3

Question 28

What are the 3 different interphone systems?

Answer 28

Flight interphone - communication between the flight deck and the pushback coordinator
Cabin interphone - communication between the flight deck and the cabin
Service interphone - communication between the flight deck and all maintenance receptacles around the exterior of the aircraft, and between each of those maintenance receptacles

Question 29

When is the hot mic feature inhibited?

Answer 29

When the push-to-talk button on the side stick or hand microphone is pressed

Question 30

When is the service interphone system inhibited?

Answer 30

When the aircraft becomes airborne and the gear is not depressed

Question 31

Can the service interphone system be used when the gear is not compressed?

Answer 31

Yes, by pressing the SVCE INT OVRD button on the overhead panel

Question 32

What happens when the FWD or AFT calls PB’s are pressed?

Answer 32

A high-low chime sounds in the corresponding section of the cabin, two pink lights on the cabin CALLS panel illuminate (next to the EXIT signs on the ceiling), and the message “CAPTAIN CALL” appears on the attendant indication panel accompanied by a green light.

Question 33

What happens when the EMER call PB is pressed?

Answer 33

3 high-low chimes sound in ALL cabin loudspeakers, two pink lights flash at ALL area CALL panels (by the overhead EXIT signs), and “EMERGENCY CALL” appears in red on ALL attendant indication panels accompanied by a red light

Question 34

What happens when the MECH calls PB is pressed?

Answer 34

An external horn sounds and the “COCKPIT CALL” light illuminates on the external power panel

Question 35

What the difference between when a flight attendant hits the captain call vs emergency call buttons on their phone?

Answer 35

When the captain call button is pressed only a single buzzer sounds in the flight deck. When the emergency call button is pressed 3 buzzers sounds are heard in the flight deck.

Question 36

When is the buzzer for the flight attendant regular calls and emergency calls inhibited?

Answer 36

Below 1500 feet during takeoff and below 800 feet on approach until touchdown. The flashing call light will still illuminate just the buzzer won’t sound