In TACAN air-to-air mode, the system is used to ___?

In TACAN air-to-air mode, the system is used to ___?

• A. Provide altitude information
• B. Transmit beacon signals to air traffic control
• C. Determine ground station bearing
• D. Measure range between two or more similarly equipped aircraft, but bearing cannot be detected

Answer: (D)

TACAN air-to-air mode is all about distance between two TACAN-equipped aircraft. One aircraft interrogates the other, and the timing of the reply gives the range to that aircraft. Bearing isn’t provided in this mode because there isn’t an azimuth reference from a fixed ground station to determine direction between the two planes. Altitude information isn’t a TACAN output, and beacon-like ATC transmissions are handled by separate transponder systems. So the best use is to measure range between similarly equipped aircraft, with bearing not available in this mode.

TACAN air-to-air mode is all about distance between two TACAN-equipped aircraft. One aircraft interrogates the other, and the timing of the reply gives the range to that aircraft. Bearing isn’t provided in this mode because there isn’t an azimuth reference from a fixed ground station to determine direction between the two planes. Altitude information isn’t a TACAN output, and beacon-like ATC transmissions are handled by separate transponder systems. So the best use is to measure range between similarly equipped aircraft, with bearing not available in this mode.