Aircraft Weather Radar

With the use of aircraft doppler antenna, radio waves can be transmitted outwards and receive returns. These return waves are used to detect precipitation, and the movement of precipitation can be translated into weather conditions such as turbulence, hail, and/or wind shear. As radio waves are used to detect the presence of precipitation, these systems cannot be used to sense weather conditions such as dry turbulence. Receivers installed on the aircraft may also prove useful to detect electromagnetic signals from lightning, allowing the pilot to be aware of its occurrence, range, and intensity.

Satellite systems are proving to be very beneficial to aircraft weather radar systems, allowing for externally obtained weather information to be sent to an aircraft in any location in the world. This can provide real-time, accurate weather conditions which can be extremely beneficial for pilots and flight planning. This external information may be provided by groups such as the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

When pilots receive weather information from the aircraft antenna or satellites, conditions can be provided to them via a navigation display within the flight deck. The radar receiver conveys detected precipitation in various ways, ranging from green light returns to red heavy returns. When turbulence and precipitation is considered extreme in value, magenta colors are displayed. A Stormscope system is a technology that may also be featured on an aircraft and can be used to plot lightning strikes on a display for the pilot. With these systems, any strike that occurs within a 200 mile radius is recorded as a point on the display and may change in color over time to denote how long ago they were. A noticeable amount of strikes within a cluster can convey to the pilot that there is a storm cell located there, and the pilot can make adjustments to avoid it.

In many instances, having a functional weather detection system on an aircraft is required by governing authorities. The EU OPS, the governing regulations of the European Union, require an operator to have functioning equipment when flying at night, or in instrument meteorological conditions where lightning and other hazards may be present on the intended flight route. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also has similar regulations, one such regulation establishing that large, transport aircraft cannot be operated without an aircraft weather radar system that has been approved.

The aircraft weather radar system is an indispensable asset to the pilot to maintain safe and smooth operations for any flight, commercial or not. Ensuring that your aircraft is fitted with advanced weather radar technology and parts can go a long way, and there is no better place than ASAP Parts 360 to source all of your needs.

ASAP Parts 360 is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find aircraft weather radar parts you need, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapparts360.com or call us at +1-708-387-7800.