Radar myths and misconceptions

Flying Safety, May, 2002 by Dave Gwinn

Getting radar reports from other aircraft might cause you to think about them. How far from the weather is the pilot? What kind of antenna has he got? Do you have total faith in his training and experience in using this multi-flawed product? It often wasn't what I knew that caused problems in my flying career, but what I didn't know and acted upon anyway that complicated the job. To rely upon radar without education is an invitation to misuse and misadventure.

(Retired TWA Captain Dave Gwinn is now a Consultant for Honeywell-Systems Training, conducting Weather Radar Seminars worldwide. You can contact him at CaptDavidGwinn@aol.com.)

What Radar Sees

Condition       Return

Rain            Good
Wet Hail        Good
Wet Snow        Marginal
Dry Hail        Poor
Dry Snow        Very Poor
Water Vapor     No Return
Ice Crystals    No Return
Small Dry Hail  No Return
Aircraft        Antenna Diameter

C-9                   28"
KC-10                 30"
C-20               12" or 18"
C-37               18" or 24"
C-130          Approx. 26" by 32"
C-135, KC-135      28" or 33"
RC-135         Approx. 18" by 31"
C-141                 30"