User Guide Part 1

SKY497 System Description
Pilot’s Guide 1-1
Chapter 1
System Description
General Description
The SKYWATCH
™
model SKY497 from BFGoodrich Avionics Systems, Inc. is an airborne
Traffic Advisory System ( TAS ). It monitors the airspace around your aircraft and advises the
flight crew where to look for transponder-equipped aircraft that may pose a collision threat.
The
SKY497 is intended for use by corporate and general aviation aircraft. Figure 1-1 shows
the major components of the SKY497 .
The SKY497 displays traffic information on a BFG WX-1000/SKY497 display and generates
aural announcements on the cockpit audio system. The display can be dedicated to the
SKY497 or shared with a STORMSCOPE
®
Weather Mapping System (model WX-1000 )
using a remote SKYWATCH/STORMSCOPE mode switch.
Traffic information on the CRT display consists of green symbols and text. The traffic
information generally includes the relative range, bearing, and altitude of intruder aircraft.
SKY497 Pilot’s Guide
Transmitter Receiver Computer (TRC)
The TRC is the primary unit of the SKY497 . It contains the circuitry necessary to convert
inputs from the directional antenna and from other aircraft systems into an on-screen
representation of intruding aircraft, and if necessary, aural traffic advisories. The
TRC can
track up to 30 intruder aircraft simultaneously, but to reduce clutter, the SKY497 only
displays the eight most threatening intruders being tracked. The TRC also contains Built-In
Test Equipment ( BITE ) which detects faults and verifies proper operation.
Directional Antenna
The directional antenna transmits omnidirectional mode C interrogations and receives
directional replies from other transponder-equipped aircraft in the vicinity.
Figure 1-1. SKY497 Major Components
Directional Antenna
TRCDisplay