Transponder antennas located where?

• A. Forward doghouse fairing, Underside of tail boom
• B. Nose cone and cockpit
• C. On the vertical stabilizer
• D. In the tail cone

Answer: (A)

Transponder performance relies on reliable, two‑way, line‑of‑sight operation with ATC radar, so antennas are placed where they have clear paths and can cover both the top and bottom of the aircraft. One antenna is located in the forward nose area—the forward doghouse fairing—so it has an unobstructed, elevated path away from major structural interference. The second antenna is placed on the underside of the tail boom, keeping it clear of the fuselage and rotor/engine noise while providing a strong bottom-facing path. This combination helps ensure the transponder’s signals are received and transmitted effectively from most attitudes and directions.

Other locations would either place antennas too close to interfering structures or fail to provide good top and bottom coverage, reducing performance.