EJets

EJets
Weather Radar
Luiz Hamilton Lima

Vice President,
Services & Support
Commercial Aviation
Summary Example
• Introduction
• Welcome Message
• Coffee Break
• Upcoming Events
EJets Weather Radar System
Radar Principles
The name RADAR is a contraction:

RAdio Detection And Ranging.
This object is far from the
radar.
The Radar’s beam envelope.
This object is
located near the
radar.
Radar Principles
(1) Find the distance to an object (often called a radar target).
(2) To find the direction to the target.
(3) To determine the target’s reflection characteristics.

Radar Principles
(1) Find the distance to an object (often called a radar target).
Radar-signal-travel time
12.34 millionths of a second per nautical mile.
50 NM round trip takes the energy 617 millionths of a second.
50 NM target
Radar Principles
(2) To find the direction to the target.
The radar receives a reflection from this target

only when the beam is directed toward it.
Beam shape The radar does not

receive a reflection
from this target at
Outgoing this time.
radar pulse
The antenna scans
from side-to-side
through this angle.
Radar Principles
(3) To determine the target’s reflection characteristics.
Signal amplitude B
Red-color threshold (large
targets)
C
Yellow-color threshold
(medium targets)
A Green-color threshold
(small targets)
Time (Range in NM)

0
Transmitter W
240 30
firing signal Target return
0
0
21
located at 50 Target return
Target return
NM. located at 75
located at 25
NM. 50 50
NM.
Calibrated Weather Radar

Weather should compensate for the effect called beam-filling
Standard storm is larger

than the beam width
(beam-filling).
Standard storm is smaller

than the beam width (non-
beam-filling).
10 NM 21 NM 32 NM
Without 40 NM 40 NM 40 NM
Compensation
10 NM 21 NM 32 NM
With 40 NM 40 NM 40 NM
Compensation
Calibrated Weather Radar

Weather should compensate for the effect called Space Loss
A rock dropping into

the water below.
Water’s surface
A wood pilling in
the water
providing a
Higher-energy water waves reflection of the
(because the energy is fairly water waves.
concentrated)
Point of entry of the

rock into the water.
Lowest energy waves
reflecting back to the rock’s
water-entry point (still further
spreading of the energy).
Wx Radar Detection Mode (WX)

• The WX mode is used to detect areas
of severe weather.
• This will allow the pilots to avoid areas
of dangerous weather conditions and
possible turbulence.
• If WX is selected before the initial RTA
warm-up period is over (approximately
90s), WAIT is displayed in the mode
field.
• In the wait mode, the transmitter and
WX antenna scan are inhibited.
Weather Radar Target
Altitude in feet 3 NM
40,000
Positive and negative Super-cooled
charge centers water/ice region
30,000
Bright Band:
This is the volume 20,000
within the storm where
the beam must be
directed in order to
achieve a calibrated 10,000
radar presentation.
Cloud-to-ground
strikes Rain shaft
Induced-earth charge
Heavy precipitation (Between 1.91 to 8 inches per hour)

Heavy precipitation (between 0.45 and 1.91 inches per hour)
Medium precipitation (between 0.14 and 0.45 inches per hour)
Light precipitation (between .04 and 0.14 inches per hour)

Rain
Rate
Rule of thumb about rain-rate
Each color change increases the

rain-rate by about 3 to 4 times
Severe turbulence,
large hail, lightning,
extensive wind gusts,
and turbulence are all
highly probable.
?
ater
gre
or
u al
q
i one
ct ? Severe turbulence, hail
efle greater
R l or and lightning are likely.
qua
e fle c tion e
R
Reflectio
n equal or
greater?
Re
fle
c tio Light to moderate
n eq turbulence and hail is
ua possible with lightning .
l or
g re
ate
r?
Light to moderate
turbulence is possible
with lightning.
Ground Mapping Mode (GMAP)

• This mode is used to alert the flight
crew about hazards caused by ground
targets.
• This is especially useful in areas of
rapidly changing terrain, such as hilly
mountainous areas.
• It is not intended to be used or relied
for ground proximity warning.
GMAP
Standby (STBY)
• The weather radar remains in a ready
state, with the antenna scan
motionless and stowed in a tilt-up
position.
• In addition, the transmitter is inhibited
and the display memory is erased.
STBY
Forced Standby (FSBY)

• The RTA is in forced standby mode
when the airplane is on the ground,
the transmitter and antenna scan are
both inhibited, display memory is
erased, and FSBY is displayed in the
mode field.
FSBY

• Overriding the forced standby requires
that both pilots select the FSBY OVRD
menu item on the respective weather
controllers or one pilot selects the
Antenna Stabilization checkbox (STAB
OFF) 4 times in less than 3 seconds
enabling the WX mode on ground.
FSBY
FSBY
WX FSBY
WX
FSBY
WX FSBY
WX

• Overriding the forced standby requires
that both pilots select the FSBY OVRD
menu item on the respective weather
controllers or one pilot selects the
Antenna Stabilization checkbox (STAB
OFF) 4 times in less than 3 seconds
enabling the WX mode on ground.
FSBY
OFF Mode
• Turns the radar off, provided OFF is
selected on both virtual controllers.
• The system is no longer radiating
power and the antenna is stowed.
Slave Mode
• One controller is in OFF position whereas the other controller is in an operating
mode.
• The operating one is in control of both sweeps.
WX WX
Sector Scan (SECT) Function

• The normal radar sweep is ± 60
degrees from the airplane nose, at a
rate of 12 sweeps per minute.
• Selecting the SECT pushbutton
reduces the angle of sweep to ± 30
degrees and increases the sweep rate
to 24 sweeps per minute.



Antenna Stabilization Function

• The antenna is stabilized in pitch and
roll using attitude information from the
IRU.
• Momentarily selecting the STAB OFF
checkbox disables antenna
stabilization and causes an amber
STAB to be displayed.
WX
STAB OFF
Antenna Stabilization Function

• The antenna is stabilized in pitch and
roll using attitude information from the
IRU.
• Momentarily selecting the STAB OFF
checkbox disables antenna
stabilization and causes an amber
STAB to be displayed.
WX
STAB OFF
Receiver Gain (GAIN) Function

• The GAIN control varies the RTA
receiver gain.
• There are two modes:
• Variable and,
• Calibrated.
• The normal preset is calibrated mode
and is used for weather avoidance.
• The system will be forced into
calibrated gain when RCT or TGT are
selected.
85

• The GAIN control varies the RTA
receiver gain.
• There are two modes:
• Variable and,
• Calibrated.
• The normal preset is calibrated mode
and is used for weather avoidance.
• The system will be forced into
calibrated gain when RCT or TGT are
selected.
95

• The variable mode is useful for
additional weather analysis and for
ground mapping.
• In WX mode, variable gain can
increase receiver sensitivity over the
calibrated level to show weak targets
or it can be reduced below the
calibrated level to eliminate weak
returns.
40
Variable Gain
Here the target signal exceeds the voltage threshold, so a

target is detected and presented on the radar’s display.
The Display’s Color-Threshold Voltage

C Target’s-Return Voltage
B
D
Time
0
Receiver-Background Noise
Now reduce the Gain just a little.
Signal amplitude
Since this target signal now does not By reducing the Gain, this
exceed the voltage threshold, the target is threshold voltage moved up.
no longer detected and displayed. B
C
Time
0
Moving the detection threshold up and down is the manual gain’s function (just like a squelch on a radio).

• The selection of preset gain will
generally provide the desired mapping
display, however the gain can also be
manually operated.
• It is possible to have one pilot working
the GMAP while the other is using the
WX mode.
GMAP
85

• The selection of preset gain will
generally provide the desired mapping
display, however the gain can also be
manually operated.
• It is possible to have one pilot working
the GMAP while the other is using the
WX mode.
GMAP
58
Target Alert (TGT) Function

• The TGT function monitors for
weather beyond the selected range
and 7.5°on each side of the airplane
heading.
• If such weather is detected within the
monitored heading, outside the
selected range until a range of
200 NM, the TGT annunciation
changes from a green-armed
condition to an amber alert condition
on the MFD.
WX / TGT

heading.
on the MFD.
WX / TGT

heading.
on the MFD.
WX / TGT

• This annunciation advises the flight
crew that potentially hazardous
weather lies directly in front and
outside of the selected range.
• When this warning is received, the
flight crew should select longer ranges
to view the questionable target.
• Note that TGT is inactive when
50
hazards are within the selected range.
WX / TGT

• Selecting the TGT function forces the
system to preset gain and turns off
variable gain mode.
• Selections of ranges of 200 NM or
greater automatically turns off TGT
function and allows variable gain
mode.
• Itcan only be selected in the WX
50
mode.
WX / TGT
Weather Attenuation
• Thunderstorms have a characteristic that allows us to identify them on the radar screen.
• It’s called Weather Attenuation.
• The radar pulse loses some of its strength as it travels through the core of a
thunderstorm!
1 The signal’s strength that exits

Raindrop the rain area can be significantly
The incoming microwave reduced if the rainstorm is strong.
energy from the radar is
represented by vertical 3
bars. The bar’s thickness
Direction of energy travel
indicates the incoming
signal’s strength.
This is the shadowed

area directly behind
the dangerous storm.
2
Weather Attenuation
The radar shadow.
The dangerous
thunderstorm forward of
the shadow.
Weather Attenuation
First look for the potential shadows. Then…..

Potential Radar
shadow (but it’s not).
look for a thunderstorm in front of the shadow
This is probably one of
the great lakes.
Potential Radar Potential Radar
Shadow (it is) Thunderstorm Shadow (it is) Thunderstorm City (no shadow)
City
RCT (Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation Technique)

• This mode can be used to better identify severe thunderstorms
• As the radar energy travels through rainfall, the raindrops reflect a portion of the energy
back toward the airplane.
• This results in less energy being available to detect raindrops at greater ranges. This
process continues throughout the depth of the storm, resulting in a phenomenon known
as attenuation.
• The amount of attenuation increases with an increase in rainfall rate and with an increase
in the range traveled through the rainfall (i.e., heavy rain over a large area results in high
levels of attenuation, while light rain over a small area results in low levels of
attenuation).
• The point where red level weather target calibration is no longer possible is highlighted
by changing the background field from black to cyan. Any area of cyan background is an
area where attenuation has caused the receiver gain to reach its maximum value, so
further calibration of returns is not possible. Extreme caution is recommended in any
attempt to analyze weather in these cyan areas.
RCT (Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation Technique)

• The point where red level weather target calibration is no longer possible is highlighted
by changing the background field from black to cyan.
• Any area of cyan background is an area where attenuation has caused the receiver gain
to reach its maximum value, so further calibration of returns is not possible.
• The cell that produces a radar shadow is a very strong and dangerous cell. It should be
avoided by 20 miles.
• Extreme caution is recommended in any attempt to analyze weather in these cyan areas.
Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation

Technique (REACT) Function
• Used in WX mode to compensate for
attenuation of the radar signal as it
passes through a storm.
• It does this by increasing the gain of
the receiver as weather is detected.
WX / R
Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation

Technique (REACT) Function
• The cyan field indicates areas where
further compensation is not possible.
• This is a warning indicating that
attenuation is hiding possible severe
weather and should be considered
dangerous.
• Selecting the RCT function forces the
system to preset gain and turns off
variable gain mode.
WX / R
Tilt Adjustment
• Point the most intense part of the radar’s beam at the most intense part of the storm to
maintain a calibrated-weather presentation.
Most intense part of the storm

(Bright Band)
Earth
Most intense part of the beam

Altitude Compensated Tilt (ACT)

Function
• Automatically adjusts the antenna tilt
according to the altitude and selected
range.
• The TILT knob can be used for fixed
offset corrections of up to 2.0 degrees.
1ºA
WX

Function
• + 15 º
• - 15 º
15 º
WX

Function
• + 15 º
• - 15 º
- 15 º
WX

Function
• OFF SET + 2.0º
• OFF SET - 2.0º
1ºA
WX

Function
• OFF SET + 2.0º
• OFF SET - 2.0º
50
5ºA
WX
Tilt Adjustment
Tilt-Angle-Reference
-10 0 +10 The Radar Tilt-Angle Calculator is a visual aid to help you gain a better
-20 +20
understanding of the geometric relationships that exist between the
2. aircraft, the earth and thunderstorms.
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000 Bright Band
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Range in NM Weather b
eam width
Ground
-Map b
ea m widt
h
1.
3.
All the dimensions on the Radar Tilt-Angle Calculator are to scale.
Tilt Adjustment
• Another way to optimize the weather radar return is the ground declutter method
Look for shadow areas on the display. See if there

1. is a return ahead of it.
If you do observe a shadow adjust the

2. tilt angle to maximize a weather target
accepting significant ground clutter.
Adjust the tilt angle up until you start to lose the weather
3. target’s strength because you have moved the weather
beam above the storm’s core.
4. Down tilt to re-maximize the weather

target while minimizing the ground clutter.
That’s it!
Turbulence Detection (TURB)

Function
• The radar processes return signals in
order to determine if a turbulence
signature is present.
• Areas of moderate, severe, or extreme
turbulence are displayed in soft white.
• TURB may only be engaged in the WX
mode and at selected ranges of 50
NM or less.
WX
Lightning Sensor System (LSS)

• The Lightning Sensor System (LSS)
detects and locates areas of lightning
activity in a 200 NM radius around the
airplane, displaying lightning rate of
occurrence and position relative to the
airplane.
• LSS information becomes available in
the MFD by selecting “Weather” on
the MFD Map menu control and then
checking “LX” checkbox on the
weather menu.
WX
Test Function
• The test function is selected on MCDU
avionics test page.
• The test is used to select a special
test pattern to allow verification of
system operation.
• If fault codes are detected they will be
displayed at the same location where
tilt angle is displayed in the Weather
mode field.
General Rules
• Don’t accept a vector from ATC into convective weather. Always ask for an alternate
route. When you do refuse a vector, always try to give them adequate warning time so
they can plan for aircraft-spacing adjustments. That is, try to avoid last-minute decisions.
• Don’t plan a course between two closely spaced thunderstorms (storms with less than
40 NM between them).
• Don’t land or takeoff in the face of a thunderstorm that is in the projected flight path. A
sudden wind shift or low-level turbulence could cause loss of control.
• Don’t attempt to fly under a thunderstorm even if you can see through to the other side.
Turbulence under the storm could be severe.
• Don’t fly over thunderstorms. Turbulence above a storm can be severe.
General Rules
• Do avoid by at least 20 NM any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense
radar echo. This distance rule includes the anvil of a large cumulonimbus cloud.
• Do clear the visual top of a known or suspected severe thunderstorm by at least 10,000
feet. If that exceeds the capability of the aircraft, go around the storm by a wide safety
margin on the upwind side.
• Do remember that vivid and frequent lightning indicates a severe thunderstorm.
• Do regard as severe any thunderstorm with tops 35,000 feet or higher regardless of how
you locate it--visual, radar or from a report.
• Do evaluate weather scenarios from a distance and always plan an escape route at the
top of a descent.
General Rules
• Always be aware – avoid the Blind Alley
but…………...
General Rules
• Always be aware – avoid the Blind Alley
General Rules
• Whenever possible, deviate to the upwind side of a storm to avoid the downwind eddy
currents. These eddies are caused by the obstruction the storm presents to the wind
stream.
Wind direction
Turbulence in the
downwind eddies.

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Luiz Hamilton Lima

The name RADAR is a contraction:

(1) Find the distance to an object (often called a radar target).

(2) To find the direction to the target.

(3) To determine the target’s reflection characteristics.

50 NM round trip takes the energy 617 millionths of a second.

The radar receives a reflection from this target

Beam shape The radar does not

Time (Range in NM)

Calibrated Weather Radar

Standard storm is larger

Standard storm is smaller

Calibrated Weather Radar

A rock dropping into

Point of entry of the

Wx Radar Detection Mode (WX)

Weather Radar Target

Heavy precipitation (Between 1.91 to 8 inches per hour)

Medium precipitation (between 0.14 and 0.45 inches per hour)

Light precipitation (between .04 and 0.14 inches per hour)

Weather Radar Target

Rule of thumb about rain-rate

Each color change increases the

Weather Radar Target

Ground Mapping Mode (GMAP)

Forced Standby (FSBY)

Forced Standby (FSBY)

Forced Standby (FSBY)

Sector Scan (SECT) Function

Sector Scan (SECT) Function

Sector Scan (SECT) Function

Sector Scan (SECT) Function

Antenna Stabilization Function

Antenna Stabilization Function

Receiver Gain (GAIN) Function

Receiver Gain (GAIN) Function

Receiver Gain (GAIN) Function

Here the target signal exceeds the voltage threshold, so a

The Display’s Color-Threshold Voltage

Ground Mapping Mode (GMAP)

Ground Mapping Mode (GMAP)

Target Alert (TGT) Function

Target Alert (TGT) Function

Target Alert (TGT) Function

Target Alert (TGT) Function

Target Alert (TGT) Function

1 The signal’s strength that exits

This is the shadowed

The radar shadow.

First look for the potential shadows. Then…..

RCT (Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation Technique)

RCT (Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation Technique)

Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation

Rain Echo Attenuation Compensation

Most intense part of the storm

Most intense part of the beam

Altitude Compensated Tilt (ACT)

Altitude Compensated Tilt (ACT)

Altitude Compensated Tilt (ACT)

Altitude Compensated Tilt (ACT)

Altitude Compensated Tilt (ACT)

Look for shadow areas on the display. See if there