Question for ATC Australia

[benharris10]

I was reading the latest Flight Safety Australia ( link for anyone who is interested) http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_asset.../nov-dec11.pdf
and came across an article on page 58 which talks about an Ansett Vickers Viscount 720 which is believed to have broken up in flight due to bad weather after departure.

The last section of the article says the following.

My question is, does ATC have access to weather radar or anything similar which can be used as possible weather avoidance for pilots flying IFR without weather radar? This article seems to indicate that it was possible. If so, how does the system work? Is it simply the BOM weather radar superimposed on the screen of the controller as the article indicates?

[le Pingouin]

Nothing so sophisticated I'm afraid. We only get the BOM radar pictures displayed on a monitor - exactly as you get from their website. i.e. indicative only & updated every 10 minutes.

[stevep64]

and from what I remember, it's only a small monitor too.

[5miles]

...to be superimposed on radar displays...

First proposed in the '60s and we're still waiting on it.

[stevep64]

I didn't notice when I did my tour of BNE centre, but are the BoM radar images centered on BNE, or Mt Stapylton? I visited the BoM station across from the tower recently and their radar image is centered on the airport.

[benharris10]

Thanks for the responses guys, I didn't think it was there but was curious when I read the article.

Out of curiosity, would it be helpful from a controllers point of view? IE, Brisbane for example, could you now start to plan which inbound aircraft are likely to require weather diversions and possibly plan accordingly?

Theoretically it wouldn't be that hard to do, the boys at AVPLAN (ipad app) can do it on a track and that is on an IPAD with an expandable scale....

I understand that weather avoidance would (and should) still be completely up to the pilot, but it could be helpful.

I also noticed the following in the Jeppesen Documents ( ATC-112)

8.12 Weather Radar
8.12.1 Weather radar data derived from BoM radar sites is displayed at various ATS working positions by means of a PC based system known within Airservices as METRAD, and within the military as RAPIC.
8.12.2 METRAD / RAPIC images are not 'real time' but are the results of a ten minute update cycle. The most effective range of the radars is up to 75NM
8.12.3 Weather radar sites, which may be utilized by ATS are shown below (Diagram in Jepps). Weather radar information within 75NM of radar sites is available to pilots, subject to ATS workload on request
8.12.4 When providing METRAD/RAPIC information to pilots, ATS officers will use the prefix " MET RADAR DISPLAY INDICATES"

Is that the display that le Pingouin is talking about?

[Plazbot]

Yes. As written, only used for info out to 75 miles not avoidance. Assuming it is the same as two years ago it is useless for anything other than alerting those who ride bikes/motos to work that they will be getting wet.

[5miles]

Whilst far from ideal, it's hardly useless.
Not much good on a micro level, but good for planning or anticipating alternative approach or circuit entry requirements.