WX Radar
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WX Radar
So I'm taxing out in my A330 at LHR, my company SOP as part of the pre departure checks is to switch on the wx radar during taxi, however taxing just ahead of me is a 747. My question...are the high frequency radio waves reflected back off the jumbo of any danger to me in he flightdeck
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Join Date: Aug 2001
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He,he...how about the poor guys in the jumbo that are getting a nice tan without even knowing...
Actually,the wx radars we have today are not so dangerous (do not operate within 15' of people says in the 737 FCOM)..so I guess you'll not be closer than this to a 747,right...?
One question ,though,..why do you have to keep the radar on during taxi ? Why did they put this in your SOP ?
Brgds...Alex
Actually,the wx radars we have today are not so dangerous (do not operate within 15' of people says in the 737 FCOM)..so I guess you'll not be closer than this to a 747,right...?
One question ,though,..why do you have to keep the radar on during taxi ? Why did they put this in your SOP ?
Brgds...Alex
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If your Wx radar is actually transmitting.......
(1) There should be no danger to the occupants of the aircraft ahead, they should be well protected by the reflective structure.
(2) There should be no danger to you or the occupants of your own aircraft, you should be well protected by your own reflective structure.
(3) There could be considerable risk to your own radar, which is calibrated to receive less than 0.1% of the energy transmitted, but is now receiving probably 20 to 30% of it, and overloading the receiver. Perhaps your radar has a pre-set received signal threshold beyond which incoming energy is blocked, but it certainly WAS a problem on some aircraft at an earlier time.
Regards,
Old Smokey
(1) There should be no danger to the occupants of the aircraft ahead, they should be well protected by the reflective structure.
(2) There should be no danger to you or the occupants of your own aircraft, you should be well protected by your own reflective structure.
(3) There could be considerable risk to your own radar, which is calibrated to receive less than 0.1% of the energy transmitted, but is now receiving probably 20 to 30% of it, and overloading the receiver. Perhaps your radar has a pre-set received signal threshold beyond which incoming energy is blocked, but it certainly WAS a problem on some aircraft at an earlier time.
Regards,
Old Smokey
AERO DYNAMIK,
FCOM vol 3 supp techniques, Wx radar, should answer your question, no large metallic objets within 5 meters in arc +/- 90 deg of the aircraft centreline, no person withing 5 m within 135 deg of the a/c cetererline before selecting WX, WX/T, MAP modes.
FCOM vol 3 supp techniques, Wx radar, should answer your question, no large metallic objets within 5 meters in arc +/- 90 deg of the aircraft centreline, no person withing 5 m within 135 deg of the a/c cetererline before selecting WX, WX/T, MAP modes.
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Have you guys considered how much power your wx radar transmits? I bet it's minimal.. Now check out what's coming from that big antenna just as you come out of the tunnel at Heathrow. On with the lead underpants boys...
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"Why have my weather radar on for taxi"
Probably so that it is stabilised, to prevent damage.
It will also give you a good view of weather on your intended SID.
The safety range of my radar is inside the radome, so you could stand in front of it in perfect safety (if very brave!).
Also, can't remember the formula, but it is based on the 1:60 rule, so, for example:
Tilt -2
Distance 30nm
Beam width 5 deg
Cloud is 2250' below (I hope thats right!!)
Probably so that it is stabilised, to prevent damage.
It will also give you a good view of weather on your intended SID.
The safety range of my radar is inside the radome, so you could stand in front of it in perfect safety (if very brave!).
Also, can't remember the formula, but it is based on the 1:60 rule, so, for example:
Tilt -2
Distance 30nm
Beam width 5 deg
Cloud is 2250' below (I hope thats right!!)
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P-T Gamekeeper. Jeez - I hate these complicated usernames.
Taxying with radar on for stabilisation is an old wives tale.
If there was a problem with the antenna bouncing around while taxying you can be sure that the manufacturer's pilot information manual would say so and state a specific procedure to prevent damge.
Taxying with radar on for stabilisation is an old wives tale.
If there was a problem with the antenna bouncing around while taxying you can be sure that the manufacturer's pilot information manual would say so and state a specific procedure to prevent damge.
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Sorry - I must be an old wife!! I am a herc driver, and thats the reason we switch on prior to taxi. The other point is valid, whatever the technology. The C130-J has a modern radar, but we still switch on for stabilisation, so maybe I'm not the only old maid out there.
Maybe the manufacturors procedure is - wait for it - taxi with the radar on!
Maybe the manufacturors procedure is - wait for it - taxi with the radar on!
Last edited by P-T-Gamekeeper; 28th Feb 2005 at 20:16.
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Exposure to RF from modern WX radars is greatly exaggerated. Have a look at this link.
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There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't
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There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't
