Attenuation
Radar Procedures
Radar Beam Reflection
Figure: Radiated beam reflecting off rain drops, from Honeywell Radar Training, Part 4, Slide 4.
Attenuation is the idea that the radar signal loses some of its strength as it travels through the weather. It serves two vital purposes:
- The signal that progresses returns at a later time, milliseconds later, allowing the radar receiver to interpret the signal as further distant.
- Radar attenuation can produce radar scope shadows which indicate dangerous weather, potentially dangerous terrain (depending on your altitude), or cities which will be below your flight path. Knowing how to tell the difference is a vital skill every all-weather pilot should master.
More about: Radar - Techniques.
Radar Shadow Technique
Figure: Radar attenuation shadow technique, from Honeywell Radar Training, Part 4, Slide 7.
You need to aim the tilt down far enough to paint lots of ground clutter and then look for returns. The entire beam has to fall into the weather.
More about that: Radar - Beam Width.
A large return with no shadow is more than likely a city. A large return with a shadow is probably a lake, a tall mountain, or a thunderstorm.
More About Radar
- Beam Width
- Calibration
- Confidence Check
- Energy
- Gain
- How it Works
- Operational Examples
- REACT
- Techniques
- Tilt
Book Notes
Portions of this page can be found in the book Flight Lessons 1: Basic Flight, Chapter 28.
References
Honeywell Airborne Weather Radar Training, Rev E, 12/09/02, Honeywell Inc. Commercial Flight Systems Group, Phoenix, AZ.
Honeywell Primus 880 Pilot's Guide, Pub. No. A28-1146-102-03, Revised January 2006, Honeywell International Inc. Commercial Electronic Systems, Glendale, AZ.
Revision: 20131127
Always remember that Eddie, when you get right down to it, is just a pilot. He tries to give you the facts from the source materials but maybe he got it wrong, maybe he is out of date. Sure, he warns you when he is giving you his personal techniques, but you should always follow your primary guidance (Aircraft manuals, government regulations, etc.) before listening to Eddie.
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