an Rockwell International rT : pilot's guide © Copyright 1999 Rockwell Collins, Inc. All rights reserved. Collins General Aviatien Division Collins WXR-300 Weather Radar, System ia = vo > ) smalcontents introduction section 1 the WXR-300 weather radar system IND-300 indicator ........ WXT-250A receiver-transmitter aa ANT-310/ANT-312/ANT-316 antennas . section 2 operational controls......... mode select pushbuttons range select pushbuttons . gain/antenna tilt/intensity control and hold switch . target alert/azimuth lines select/stabilization switches .. faultimonitote: seen ere. cm eer eee 11 section 3 preflight... section 4 operation departure and enroute weather recognition and avoidance . use of weather hold terrain mapping... section 5 weather radar interpretation . thunderstorms tornadoes [neil cose advisory circularintroduction The pilot's guide describes the operation of the WXR-300 Weather Radar System and provides a basic understanding of the techniques of weather detection and avoidance. This booklet is not intended to provide a comprehensive treat- ment of the interpretation of the weather radar display. Proper use of radar for weather detection and avoidance largely depends on the pilot's ability to evaluate the black, green, yellow, and red (least reflective to most reflective) display in terms of the associated weather conditions. This skill in interpreting the display is gained through training and experience. The WXR-300 system provides up to a 300-nautical mile range. The system consists of three units: a panel-mounted indicator with all system operating controls, a remotely mounted receiver-transmitter, and a nose-mounted pitch and roll stabilized antenna. During adverse weather conditions, the pilot is concerned about the satest possible flight path. The WXR-300 color radar system aids the pilot in choosing this path. The in- dicator display shows four color targets in terms of range and azimuth relative to the aircraft heading as an aid in navigating around areas of heaviest rainfall. (Refer to the thunderstorms and radar section of FAA Advisory Circular No. 00-6A, Aviation Weather, and Advisory Circular No. 00- 24, Thunderstorms, for additional information.) The WXR-300 system may also be used for terrain mapping. For terrain mapping, the four colors change to black, blue, yellow, and magenta (least reflective to most reflective). The indicator display shows terrain features that provide a navigational aid to effectively extend the pilot's "vision" un- der otherwise restricted visibility conditions. With practice, the pilot should be able to identify coastlines, large rivers and lakes, mountainous areas, and iiThe WXR-300 system is an advanced design weather radar using a digitally generated display that provides several operational features not found in earlier generation weather radars. These features include the following: * Highest quality digital color display available. * Pushbutton control of both mode and range eliminates switching through unwanted functions. * Continuous nonfading display. * Four color weather display. + Higher crt dot density for a smoother display outline. * Dual pulse width for optimum long- and short-range per- formance. * Absence of random noise and interference. © Digitally generated azimuth lines at 0°, +30°, and 460°. For unobstructed viewing, pilot can turn azimuth lines. off. ‘* Digitally generated alphanumeric display of mode, range, and fault annunciation. * Distinctive blue azimuth lines, range marks, and annun- ciation in weather modes changing to green in ground map mode. al mile d * Long 300-nau ‘al display range with system performance to match. + Short 10-nautical mile digital display range for close-in targets. * Weather display hold — stop action display. © Cyclic, red-black contour * Target alert feature notifies pilot if contourable weather is ahead 415° at 60 to 160 nautical miles from the aircraft regardless of range selected. © Self-test and fault monitoring. © Ground mapping capability. * Fast system warmup time. * Range adjusted contour. * Pitch and roll stabilized antenna.Section 1 The WXR-300 Weather Radar System The WXR-300 Weather Radar System develops a display of detectable weather conditions up to 300 nautical miles from, and 60 degrees either side of, the aircratt's longitudinal axis The system consists of three units: an IND-300 Indicator; a WXT-250A Receiver-Transmitter; and an ANT-310 (10-inch), ANT-312 (12-inch), or ANT-318 (18-inch) flat plate, phased array antenna. IND-300 indicator The IND-300 uses digital circuitry to process the digitized video signal from the receiver-transmitter. This digital technique allows the indicator to provide a constant non- fading display of all detectable targets within the selected range and within the 120-degree antenna scan angle. The indicator provides an alphanumeric display of selected mode, selected range, range annunciators, and the target alert feature. The selected mode appears in the lower left corner of the display. The selected range is always the number appearing toward the right side and directly above the fifth (outermost) range mark. The range annunciators are the miles represented by each range mark (from the air- craft) and appear at the right side of the first three (inner- most) range marks, toward the right side and intersecting Ve”the fourth range mark, and, as previously mentioned, toward the right side and directly above the fifth range mark All operating controls for the WXR-300 color radar system are located on the indicator. The controls and their func- tions are discussed in section 2 (Operational Controls) of this booklet. WXT-250A receiver-transmitter The WXT-250A transmits a 5-kW pulse of X-band rf energy 120 times a second and "listens" between pulses. The transmitted pulses are applied to the antenna and radiated into space in a narrow beam. When the pulses strike a target, echoes are reflected back to the antenna where they are applied to the receiver portion of the WXT-250A during the “listening” period. Echoes from targets within range are amplified and digitized in the receiver and applied to the indicator for processing and display. The indicator display synchronizes the timing of the transmitted rf pulses and the antenna position. The resulting plan-position indication (PPI) is a display of range and azimuth of targets with respect to the aircraft heading.ANT-310/ANT-312/ANT-318 antennas The ANT-310, ANT-312, and ANT-318 are flat plate, phased array antennas differing only in diameter of the antenna plate and the radiated beam characteristics. The ANT-310 is 10 inches in diameter and has a9.5-degree beam width. The ANT-312 is 12 inches in diameter and has an &-degree beam width. The ANT-318 is 18 inches in diameter and has a 6- degree beam width. The larger the diameter of the plate, the narrower the beam width and the higher the gain of the antenna, resulting in better target resolution and in detec- tion of less intense targets. The antennas consist of two separate units: the drive mechanisms for the 120-degree scan and +15 degrees tilt, and the radiating element itself. The antennas are pitch and roll stabilized in response to changes in aircraft pitch and roll attitude and antenna manual tilt information.& NOTE mode select pushbuttons Section 2 Operational Controls All operating controls for the WXR-300 Weather Radar System are located on the IND-300 Indicator. The following paragraphs describe the controls and their function. Except for the OFF and STBY functions, the following dis- cussions assume the system is operating (a mode and one of the ranges is selected). ‘ mode select pushbuttons OFF — Removes power from the weather radar system. STBY — Power is applied to the system and a 60-second warmup period is initiated. The indicator display, transmitter, and antenna scan drive circuits are inhibited during the 60-second warmup period and whenever STBY is selected. Five range marks, five azimuth lines (if AZ switch is ON), and the word STBY should appear in blue within 20 seconds after applying power (adjust intensitycontrol as required). The numerical range annunciator dis- play will not be present unless one of the range select pushbuttons is pressed. Selection of STBY also resets the fault logic. TEST — Initiates the self-test function when one of the six range select pushbuttons is also pressed. After system war- mup time (approximately 60 seconds) has elapsed, the dis- play shown on page 14 should appear. For a normal-size test pattern, the 25-nautical mile range should be selected. Selecting other ranges will increase or decrease the test pattern size, resulting in an incomplete test pattern. TEST will be displayed in the lower left of the display while the range annunciators at the right side of the display will show (from innermost to outermost range mark) 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 Ensure that one of the six ranges is selected when operating in WX, NORM, or MAP mode. If WX, NORM, or MAP mode is selected without one of the ranges being selected, the system will transmit, the selected mode will be annun- ciated, the azimuth lines lif AZ switch is ON} and range marks will appear, but no targets will be displayed. It is the pilot's responsibility to ensure that the operating controls are properly positioned for the desired function. WX — The antenna begins to scan and after the 60-second warmup period has elapsed, the transmitter is energized. Also selects the weather detection mode and enables the automatic cyclic contour circuits. Contouring storm cells alternate between red and black at a one cycle per second rate, Detectable weather will appear as one of four colors: black, green, yellow, and red (least reflective to most reflective). The STC (sensitivity time contro) circuit allows distant targets to appear with the same relative brightness or intensity as close-in targets. The WX, azimuth lines (if AZ switch is ON), range marks, and range annun- ciators will be displayed in blue. NORM — Same as WX mode except automatic cyclic con- tour circuits are disabled. The most reflective targets will appear in red (will not alternate between red and black). NORM is displayed instead of WX. MAP — Selecting MAP mode also disables the automatic cyclic contour circuits. Range marks, azimuth lines (if AZ switch is ON), range annunciators and MAP will be dis- played in green. Ground targets will appear in black, blue, yellow, and magenta (least reflective to most reflective). CAUTIONIr aera Anrange select pushbuttons range select pushbuttons 10 — Pressing the 10-range pushbutton selects the 10- nautical mile range (maximum) with five 2-mile range marks. Range mark annunciation (from innermost to outer- most range mark) is 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. 25 — Same as 10, except selects a 25-nautical mile range (maximum) with five 5-mile range marks. Range mark an- nunciations is 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25. 50 — Same as 10, except selects a 50-nautical mile range (maximum) with five 10-mile range marks. Range mark an- nunciation is 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. 100 — Same as 10, exceptselects a 100-nautical mile range (maximum) with five 20-mile range marks. Range mark an- nunciation is 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100. 200 — Same as 10, except selects a 200-nautical mile range (maximum) with five 40-mile range marks. Range mark an- nunciation is 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200. 300 — Same as 10, except selects a 300-nautical mile range (maximum) with five 60-mile range marks. Range mark an- nunciation is 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300. Sygain/antenna tilt/ intensity control and hold switch intensity hold switch control be sm i paial Game gain-max/min antenna tilt control control GAIN-MAX/MIN CONTROL — The GAIN-MAX/MIN control is a 5-position switch that controls the gain of the receiver. The highest gain occurs in MAX position, with each of the other four positions reducing receiver sensitivi- ty by 6 dB fora total reduction of 24 dB in the MIN position. The GAIN-MAX/MIN control can be used with the WX, NORM, and MAP modes. The ability of a target to be dis- played is dependent on the particular GAIN setting used. All detectable targets will be shown in one of three distinct colors (green, yellow, red; least reflective to most reflective for WX and NORM, or blue, yellow, magenta; least to most reflective for MAP) plus the black indicator screen. If any GAIN position except MAX is selected, the mode annun- ciator (lower left corner of display) will alternate between GAIN and the selected mode at a 1-Hz rate (that is, GAIN- MAP-GAIN-MAP, etc). The alternating words serve to re- mind the pilot that the system is operating in a reduced gain condition and some targets may not be displayed TILT — The TILT control manually adjusts the pitch axis of the antenna from approximately +15 to -15 degrees to allow the best target presentation.INT — Controls the intensity of the indicator display. HOLD — The push on/push off HOLD button allows the display on the indicator to be frozen until a different range or mode is selected, or until the HOLD button is pressed, or until power is removed from the system. Target updating will not occur when operating in the HOLD mode. The mode annunciator (lower left corner of display) will alter nate between HOLD and the selected mode at a 1-Hz rate (that is, HOLD-WX-HOLD-W\, etc). The alternating words serve to remind the pilot that the system is in the HOLD mode and the display is not being updated. target alert/azimuth lines select/stabi switches target azimuth alert lines select stabilization switch switch switch TGT ALERT — The target alert feature notifies the pilot when a return signal of contour strength is detected within 60 to 160 nautical miles and +15 degrees of dead ahead, regardless of range selected. When the TGT ALERT slide switch is ON and there is no contouring weather within the target alert "window", a yellow letter "T" enclosed in a red square is present in the upper right corner of the display. If a contouring target is within the target alert window, the 10yellow letters "TGT” enclosed in a red rectangle in the up- per right corner of the display will flash on and off ata 1-Hz rate. The target alert feature is operable in WX or NORM modes and in any of the five GAIN positions. If the TGT ALERT switch is ON and MAP mode is selected, the target alert circuits are disabled (T or TGT will not be displayed) but will again become functional when WX or NORM mode is reselected AZ — The azimuth lines slide switch selects whether the five azimuth lines are to be displayed. STAB — The stabilization slide switch enables or disables the antenna pitch and roll stabilization circuits. The STAB switch is normally in the ON position. The OFF position is used in case of gyro input signal failure. fault monitor fault monitor The fault monitor circuit has priority over any selected mode. The word FAULT will appear in the lower left corner of the screen and will flash on and off at a 1-Hz rate if the transmitter shuts down or if there is a momentary power in- terruption. To reset the system, momentarily select the STBY mode, then reselect the desired mode. nNSection 3 Preflight The operational status of the weather radar system should be verified before each flight by performing the following procedure. 1. Verify that radar bus circuit breaker is on 2. Position controls on the IND-300 Indicator as follows: Select TEST mode. Select 25-mile range GAIN control to MAX. TILT control to +5 degrees. TGT ALERT switch OFF. AZ switch ON. STAB switch ON. After approximately 20 seconds, five range marks and five azimuth lines should appear, and TEST will be dis- played at lower left of display. The range annunciators at the right side of the display should indicate (from inner to outer range mark) 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 rc After approximately 60 seconds, the test pattern shown below should appear. The display will alternate with one contouring and one noncontouring test pattern. Adjust INT control for desired brightness. s . Verify the following items on the display: a. There are three distinct colors from apex to center of screen b. From the lower center of the display there are five distinct bands extending outward (excluding the range marks). The coloring of these bands is as follows: 13