The aircraft initially interrogates the surface beacon at _________ in search mode.

The aircraft initially interrogates the surface beacon at _________ in search mode.

• A. 10 pulses per second
• B. 1,000 pulses per second
• C. 50 pulses per second
• D. 100 pulses per second

Answer: (D)

Interrogation rate in search mode sets how often the aircraft probes the surface beacon. You want a pace that’s fast enough to detect beacons quickly as you’re moving and scanning the area, but not so fast that you waste power or swamp the system with signals. A rate that’s too slow makes the search drag on and increases the chance you’ll miss replies, especially with changing range and motion. A rate that’s too high drains power, can overload receivers, and raises the risk of interference or false detections. The best choice is the moderate, middle option, which balances timely detection with reasonable power use and system stability. Once contact is established, the system can adjust the rate for tracking.

Interrogation rate in search mode sets how often the aircraft probes the surface beacon. You want a pace that’s fast enough to detect beacons quickly as you’re moving and scanning the area, but not so fast that you waste power or swamp the system with signals. A rate that’s too slow makes the search drag on and increases the chance you’ll miss replies, especially with changing range and motion. A rate that’s too high drains power, can overload receivers, and raises the risk of interference or false detections. The best choice is the moderate, middle option, which balances timely detection with reasonable power use and system stability. Once contact is established, the system can adjust the rate for tracking.