AP3456 - 4-4 - Central Communications Systems

CHAPTER 4 - CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

Contents

Para
Introduction 1
General Description of System 2
Intercom Station Boxes 3
Intercom Discipline 8

Introduction

1. In multi-crew aircraft, crew members are able to communicate with each other by means of an
intercommunication (intercom) facility. Where this facility also enables the crew to select the required
aircraft radio and communication equipment, it forms a 'communications control system' (CCS). By use
of a CCS, most crew positions are able to select radio transmitter/receiver facilities, whilst other crew
positions may have 'receive only' services. In addition to the main intercom facility, independent
subsidiary and conference intercom circuits may be available.

General Description of System

2. Since the detailed requirements of individual aircraft may vary considerably, there is no standard
CCS installation. However, the control system normally consists of a number of units, each with different
functions, which can be interconnected in various ways to provide the facilities required. The underlying
principles are the same, irrespective of how the system has been connected.

3. Fig 1 shows the layout of a typical intercom installation. This example provides intercom and
radio facilities for the aircrew, and external ground inputs from groundcrew and telebriefing facility.
The major components are:

a. Junction Box. All the services are connected through the junction box. The various flight
crew, cabin crew and ground crew circuits radiate from it to the different aircraft positions. The
system is powered by a 28V DC supply.

b. Intercom Station Box. An intercom station box is provided at each of the principal crew
positions. This unit permits individual selection of transmitters and receivers as required. The
crew member’s headset is connected to the station box.

4-4 Fig 1 Intercom System - Simplified Block Schematic

Crash Cockpit Voice
VHF/UHF Recorder Recorder
Control Station Box
Unit
Audio Aircrew
Headset
VHF/UHF
Control Station Box
Unit
Aircrew
Headset
HF Control Junction
Unit Box
Station Box
ILS
Audio Aircrew
RWR
Headset
Nav Aids
Auxiliary
Crew
Jack Box

Telebrief
Facility
Telebrief Groundcrew
Connector Jackbox Groundcrew
Headset

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 AP3456 - 4-4 - Central Communications Systems

c. Radio Transmitter/Receiver Control Units. The intercom system provides the connection
from the crew’s headsets to the VHF, UHF and HF radio transmitter/receiver control units
(see Volume 4, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2).

d. Auxiliary Jack Boxes. Cabin/ground crew can use the normal intercom by plugging a headset
into a convenient jack box. This action closes a switch, which provides a path for the 28V DC supply
to the relays in the crew amplifier.

e. Telebrief Facility. The telebrief facility gives a secure briefing capability whilst the aircraft is
on the ground.

4. To increase reliability, the systems are decentralized with each intercom station containing its
own transistor amplifier and emergency operation facility. To reduce the risk of failure due to
damaged components, the intercom stations are usually wired in a continuous loop or ring main circuit
between the main distribution boxes. By this means, single unit or cable failure will not affect the
operation of other stations.

Intercom Station Boxes

5. The intercom station box provides crew members with a convenient means of selecting and
controlling the various services available (see Fig 2). The main facilities provided by the station box
include:

a. Crew Intercom. The intercom facility is selected by means of the Push-ON, Push-OFF
button, which remains latched (partially depressed) when ON. The button incorporates a rotary
volume control.

b. Receiver Push Buttons. Audio from radio facilities can be selected by the appropriate
pushbutton. Any combination of facilities can be listened to by each crew member, simply by
pressing the required button ON and rotating it to the desired volume level.

c. Radio Transmitter Selection. A multi-position rotary switch allows the crew member to select
a specific transmitter. The position of the switch determines which service the operator can
transmit and receive on. The corresponding receiver button does not need to be depressed, but
is still used to adjust volume.

d. Override Facility. The OVERRIDE pushbutton or switch permits high-priority messages to

be fed at high volume to all other intercom stations in the system, irrespective of the services
which they have selected.

e. Call Light Facility. When any call light is pressed, all call lights on all station boxes
illuminate. This serves to attract the attention of all crew members, even those not currently
listening to the intercom.

f. Voice/Range Buttons. Voice/range filters are used with the aircraft automatic direction finding
(ADF), VHF omni-range (VOR) and Instrument Landing System (ILS) installations to separate the
range and voice elements of the received signals. The installation provides a choice of voice, range,
or voice and range audio signal inputs.

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 AP3456 - 4-4 - Central Communications Systems

4-4 Fig 2 Typical Intercom Station Box

Push Buttons
for Receiver
Functions

CO MMUN ICATION S
UH F 1 UH F 2 VHF 1 VHF 2 HF 1 HF 2

VO ICE VO ICE VO ICE

PAN EL PAN EL
LIGHT LIGHT
N
A
V ADF 1 VO R 1 VO R 2 ADF 2

A
I
D RAN GE MX A RAN GE RX RAN GE
S
VHF 1 VHF 2 PAN EL
Override
PAN EL Push Button
LIGHT UH F 2 HF 1 LIGHT

TACAN UH F 1 HF 2 OVERRIDE
CALL EMERGEN CY
OFF
NORMAL/
TRAN SMITTERS EMERGENCY
Switch
FUSE LIGHT I/C N ORMAL

Rotary Switch Push Button

for Transmitter/ for Intercom
Call Light Receiver Function OFF - ON

6. The unit usually contains a two-section amplifier. This amplifies incoming radio and intercom
signals before feeding them to the headset. It also provides the appropriate level of output from the
crew member’s microphone, before feeding it to the selected transmitter.

7. The NORMAL/EMERGENCY switch can be set to restore intercom and receiver services in the
event of a failure in the two-section amplifier. The switch works in two stages:

a. The intercom microphone signals are switched to the transmitter selector switch.

b. The receiver signals, once selected by the appropriate pushbutton, are switched direct to the
headset, bypassing all volume controls.

Intercom may then be restored by utilizing the sidetone output of a convenient transmitter. All other
crew members requiring intercom with the faulty station must set their own selector switches to the
same transmitter.

Intercom Discipline

8. To maintain smooth and efficient communications, an intercom discipline is essential. The

following basic rules normally apply:

a. The operator’s headset microphone should be switched off unless actually speaking, as
background noise will cause interference. (Some aircrew headsets have microphones that are
speech-activated.)

b. The operator should monitor the radio in use before, during and after speaking, to avoid
interrupting radio transmissions to and from the aircraft.

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 AP3456 - 4-4 - Central Communications Systems

c. In a large multi-crew environment, crew procedures should be followed. Usually, the operator will
nominate to whom they wish to speak, state who is speaking, and ensure that the recipient
acknowledges before passing the message.

d. Crew members should not switch off audio, or leave intercom, without first informing other
crew members.

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