ARINC CHARACTERISTIC 707-7-2009 PDF

Full title and description

St ARINC CHARACTERISTIC 707-7-2009 — Radio Altimeter (RALT) characteristic specifying the desired form, fit, function and performance characteristics for radio altimeters intended for installation in commercial transport aircraft.

Abstract

Specifies the desired characteristics of a new-generation Radio Altimeter intended for installation in all types of commercial transport aircraft. The characteristic defines performance, interchangeability, environmental, interface and installation requirements to support pilot display, AFCS use during automatic approaches/landings, diagnostics and built‑in test capability.

General information

• Status: Current.
• Publication date: April 6, 2009 (ARINC Characteristic 707-7:2009).
• Publisher: Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC); available via SAE/standards distributors.
• ICS / categories: Avionics; Electronic equipment; Flight control systems; Radio equipment; Radio frequency characteristics.
• Edition / version: ARINC Characteristic 707-7, 2009 edition (product code ARINC707-7).
• Number of pages: 98 pages (PDF/hardcopy).

Scope

This characteristic provides the desired characteristics and interchangeability standards for radio altimeter systems (RALT) intended for transport-category aircraft. It covers unit form factors, electrical and RF interfaces, installation and transmission-line requirements, performance (altitude range and accuracy), environmental and cooling requirements, antenna characteristics, indicator/display requirements, built‑in test and failure monitoring, and provisions for automatic test equipment. The RALT is specified for use in pilot displays and for AFCS functions during automatic approaches and landings (ground to ~2500 ft).

Key topics and requirements

• Purpose, function and unit description of the radio altimeter and interchangeability objectives.
• Form factors, connectors, index-pin coding and standard interwiring.
• Power circuitry, standard outputs and SDI encoding of data bits.
• Environmental categories, cooling, ground/bonding and weight limits.
• System design and performance: RF characteristics, frequency stability, transmitter/receiver loop gain, altitude range, accuracy, noise and time constant.
• Aircraft Installation Delay (AID) selection, calibration and transmission-line considerations.
• Standard indicator (display) design, accuracy, lighting, warnings and control discretes.
• Antenna specifications: frequency/VSWR, beamwidth, physical characteristics and isolation requirements.
• Failure monitoring, built‑in test equipment (BITE) requirements and provisions for automatic test equipment (ATLAS language, flight‑line test connectors).
• Attachments and appendices including wiring notes, connector/plug details, diagrams, environmental test categories and encoding examples.

Typical use and users

Used by aircraft manufacturers, avionics equipment designers and suppliers, certification and regulatory engineers, airline engineering and maintenance organizations, systems integrators, and test/qualification laboratories to design, procure, install and certify radio altimeter equipment and displays for transport‑category aircraft. The characteristic is intended to ensure interchangeability and compliance for RALTs used for pilot displays and AFCS integration.

Related standards

Part of ARINC's 700-series avionics characteristics (radio altimeter characteristic ARINC 707 family). Related ARINC characteristics and avionics standards include other 700-series documents (for example ARINC 704 inertial reference system, ARINC 708 airborne weather radar, ARINC 717 flight data recorder formats) and applicable environmental, connector and installation specifications used across transport‑category avionics.

Keywords

Radio Altimeter; RALT; ARINC 707-7; avionics; radio frequency; AFCS; built‑in test (BITE); Aircraft Installation Delay (AID); interchangeability; indicator/display; antennas; test equipment.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ARINC Characteristic 707-7 is the ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Inc.) characteristic that defines the desired characteristics and interchangeability requirements for radio altimeter systems (RALT) used on transport‑category aircraft.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers unit form factors and connectors, electrical and RF interfaces, performance requirements (altitude range, accuracy, noise), environmental and cooling requirements, antenna characteristics, display/indicator design, failure monitoring/BITE, AID selection and provisions for automatic test equipment, plus attachments and appendices with wiring diagrams and encoding examples.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Aircraft manufacturers, avionics OEMs, airlines’ engineering and maintenance groups, certification authorities and test laboratories use this characteristic when designing, procuring, installing, testing and certifying radio altimeter equipment for transport‑category aircraft.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As of its published revision it is listed as Current (ARINC 707-7, published April 6, 2009). Users should confirm with the publisher or an authorized distributor for any later revisions or amendments before procurement or certification activities.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ARINC 700-series of avionics characteristics which define form, fit and function expectations for airborne equipment; related ARINC 700-series documents address other avionics functions.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Radio Altimeter; RALT; ARINC 707-7; avionics; AFCS; BITE; AID; antenna isolation; interchangeability; indicator/display.