B787 Communication

Radio System
Tuning and control Panel (TCP)

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1.Mode Se- lect Keys
Push – Se- lects desired
communi- cation tun-
ing mode page for
display
• VHF – VHF Ra-
dio Key
• HF – HF Radio Key
• SAT – SATCOM Key
• CAB – Cabin Interphone Key
2. Line Select Keys
Push –
• selects function line to be updated
• moves data from scratchpad to selected line

3. Frequency Transfer (XFR) Switch

– transfers the STBY frequency or DATA to the ACTIVE frequency and tunes the
selected radio to the new active frequency
transfers the ACTIVE frequency or DATA to the STBY frequency
6. Standby (STBY) Frequency STEP Control
Active when a list (- N/X) number is displayed next to the STBY radio title.
Push (Up) – moves up in the stored frequency list for VHF and HF radios.
Push (Down) –
• moves down in the stored frequency list for VHF and HF radios
• DATA appears at the bottom of the list

7. MENU Key
Push – selects the MENU page for display of

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 • SYS POWER (surveillance system power)
• ALERT / XPDR (transponder) CTL (control)
• SATCOM SYStem selection
• RADIO MISC

The tuning and control panels (TCP) are used to tune and control the VHF, HF,
SATCOM, cabin interphone, and other airplane systems. The panels are designated
left, center, and right, and are normally associated with the respective VHF and HF
radios.

Each TCP has a light sensor to automatically control display lighting. Lighting lev-
els for all TCPs can be adjusted using aisle stand panel or master brightness con-
trols.

The TCP enables the flight crew to share a display between multiple communica-
tion control functions. Therefore, each flight data block provides onside micro-
phone source, frequency, SELCAL and transponder code settings for continuous
pilot reference.

TCP Page Component VHF Operation

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Radio Communication Systems
The radio communication systems consist of the very high frequency (VHF) com-
munication system, the high frequency (HF) communication system, the satellite
communication (SATCOM) system, and the selective calling (SELCAL) system.

VHF Communication System

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Three independent VHF voice/data radios, designated VHF L (left), VHF C (cen-
ter), and VHF R (right)
are installed. Any VHF
radio can be controlled
by any TCP. The audio
control panels are used to
control voice transmis-
sion and receiver moni-
toring.

When a VHF radio is

tuned to frequency 121.5,
all flight crew automati-

cally monitor the radio.

The receiver lights on all
audio control panels illu-
minate.

HF Operation

HF Communication System
There are two independent HF communication radios, designated HF L (left) and
HF R (right). Each HF radio can be tuned by any TCP from the main HF page.
Managing HF frequencies on the TCP is identical to VHF mode operation. Up to
three pages of stored HF frequencies (24 total) can be stored in the TCP.

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Frequencies stored during flight (HF pages 2, and 3) may be manually deleted us-
ing the CLR key. Frequencies not manually deleted are automatically deleted from
the
TCP
after
flight
is
com-

pleted.

The HF radios operate in one of two modes, upper side band (USB) or amplitude
modulation (AM). The USB/AM key on the main HF page is used to toggle be-
tween these two modes. In addition, the HF sensitivity is controlled by the HF sen-
sitivity keys. Pushing the sensitivity UP or DOWN keys increment HF sensitivity
between maximum (100) and minimum (0) volume.

Both HF radios use a common antenna. When either HF radio is transmitting, the
antenna is disconnected from the other HF radio, and it cannot be used to transmit
or receive. However, both HF radios can receive simultaneously if neither is being
used for transmitting.

SATCOM Operation

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 1. SATCOM Channel Status
Displays associated SAT-
COM channel (-1 or -2) sta-
tus:
• READY – system
ready to make call
• CABIN USE – system
in use by cabin atten-
dants
• DIALING – system is
dialing or placing the
call
• RINGING – call is ring-
ing and waiting for
ground station to answer
• ANSWERED – call has
been picked up by
ground station
• CALL FAIL – call failed
to be received
• NOT READY – system
is not ready to make a
call
• GND CALL – there is
an incoming call
• IN QUEUE – an incoming call has been placed in SATCOM queue
2. SATCOM CALL Key

Push – MAKE CALL

• initiates a SATCOM call to the identifier / number listed below call key
• once call is in progress, prompt returns to END CALL

Push – END CALL

• cancels the current call

• prompt returns to MAKE CALL
Push – MANUAL ENTRY
• (displayed when any entry is made into the scratchpad)
• initiates a SATCOM call to the number entered in scratchpad
• once call is in progress, prompt returns to END CALL

Push – PREEMPT

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 • (displayed when another call is in progress)
• overrides call in progress and initiates selected call
• once call is in progress, prompt returns to END CALL

Push – CLR STATUS

• clears the CALL FAIL channel status message

• prompt returns to MAKE CALL

Push – ANSWER

• answers incoming call

• once call is in progress, prompt returns to END CALL
B787-8
The SATCOM system provides both data and voice communications. The system
is managed by the Satellite Receiver/Transmitter (SRT). Flight deck voice calls are
controlled using the TCPs and audio control panels.
B787-9

The SATCOM system provides both data and voice communications. The system
is managed by the Satellite Data Unit (SDU). Flight deck voice calls are controlled
using the TCPs and audio control panels.

The SATCOM control pages are displayed by selecting SAT on the TCP. Directo-
ries of airline-de-
fined numbers
are line- selectable
or num- bers may
be man- ually en-
tered if function is
enabled by the op-
erator.

ATC Messages

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ATC and Flight Information Uplinks

Arriving ATC and Flight Information uplink messages are annunciated by an

EICAS •ATC communications message and an aural chime. The message text is
displayed in the ATC Data Block. The message text can also be displayed using
the NEW MESSAGE menu selection.

Company Uplinks

Arriving company uplink messages are annunciated by an optional EICAS

•COMM communications message, optional EICAS •PRINTER communications
message, and/or an optional aural chime. The message text can be displayed using
the NEW MESSAGE menu selection.

COMM System Messages

COMM system messages are ATC related messages generated by the communica-
tion system. COMM system messages are annunciated by an EICAS •ATC com-
munications message and an aural chime. The message text is displayed in the
ATC Data Block.

ATC Datalink
ATC datalink communicates with participating air traffic control centers, reducing
the need for VHF and HF voice communications. Airplane situation reports, route
changes, speed and vertical clearances, and voice contact requests can be sent or
received as appropriate. The COMM display ATC menu selection allows display
of downlink message pages.

Uplink and downlink messages are stored. All messages are assigned the time of
receipt/transmission and are printable.

ATC datalink requires manual logon to a participating ATC facility. Once logged
on, transfer to adjacent ATC facilities is normally automatic.

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ATC

DOWNLINK

The ATC menu provides access to ATC downlink pages.

The ATC REQUESTED REPORTS menu selection is inhibited (cyan) when no re-
ports are requested by ATC.

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The CONDITIONAL CLEARANCES menu selection is inhibited (cyan) unless a
conditional clearance is accepted by the flight crew.

Some ATC menu selections and request messages are inhibited (cyan) when an
ATN (Aeronautical Telecommunication Network) datalink connection is estab-
lished.

The
LEVEL RE-
QUEST page
allows selec-
tion of a level, a
block level,
or a cruise
climb.

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The

ROUTE REQUEST page allows selection of a direct to waypoint, new route, head-
ing or track, departure and transition, arrival and transition, weather deviation, or a
route offset.

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ATC Logon/Status
The ATC LOGON/STATUS page allows logon to the desired ATC facility for es-
tablishment of a datalink connection and displays ATC datalink connection status
information.

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The SEND key is displayed after all logon entries are completed. Selecting the
SEND key displays
a SEND- ING status
message during lo-
gon trans- mission fol-
lowed by a CON-
NECT- ING status
message when the
logon is successfully
transmit- ted. Five
seconds after the lo-
gon status changes to
CON- NECTING,
the page is exited.

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Departure Clearance Request
The DEPARTURE CLEARANCE REQUEST page allows downlink request to
obtain
clear-
ance
via

datalink in a more timely manner with reduced risk of incorrect voice transmission.
The clearance may be viewed on the ATC Data Block, Comm MFD or printed.

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ATIS Request

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The
ATIS
RE-

QUEST page allows downlink request for digital ATIS information without using
voice radio. ATIS information may be viewed on the ATC Data Block, MFD or
printed.

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18
 MAS-
TER

Manager

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System Reset

When the DATALINK SYSTEM RESET key is selected, the CONFIRM RESET
key is displayed. If the CONFIRM RESET key is selected, the following occurs:

• ATC connection is reset to not established on the ground

• review messages are deleted
• the center VHF radio is selected as the default
• the VHF default radio is set to data mode on the ground or voice mode in
the air
• the right HF radio is selected as the default and set to voice mode
• VHF, HF, and SATCOM datalink is set to enable
• automatic messages are set to ON
• downlink message parameters are initialized
• ADS EMERGENCY is reset to ADS EMERGENCY OFF
• two seconds after selection, the CONFIRM RESET key is removed from the
display and the DATALINK SYSTEM RESET key is displayed as not se-
lected
This reset does not occur at power–up.
The data communication system may automatically reset (AMI option) after
each flight. If selected, reset occurs approximately 10 minutes after the last
engine is shut down, and with any entry door open.
Datalink capability for the flight management system, OMS, and EICAS re-
lated maintenance functions, and cabin functions are not reset with this fea-
ture.
System Restart
If datalink functions become unresponsive or the DATALINK LOST
(EICAS) advisory message is displayed when at least one link (SATCOM,
VHF or HF) should be operational, a system RESTART may be attempted.
When the RESTART DATA LINK key is selected, the CONFIRM
RESTART key is displayed. If the CONFIRM RESTART key is selected,
the following occurs:

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• the COMM page blanks, then returns to the main menu
• data communication changes operation to an identical standby func-
tion
• normal datalink operation is restored
• ATC, FIS and flight crew entered data are retained
• the COMM help message COMM MASTER SWITCH - COMPANY

MESSAGES LOG LOST displays

• the DATALINK LOST message blanks
Note: Whenaseconddatalinksystemrestartisselected,ATC,FISand
flight crew entered data are also lost.

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