Aviation Use of Radar

WP8B/8D Radar Seminar

September 2005
 Radar Types
• Ground-based
• Surveillance
• Long Range
• Terminal
• Others
• Precision approach
• Surface detection
• Weather
• Airborne
• Radar altimeter
• Weather
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Ground: Surveillance Radar (1 of 2)
• Long Range Radar ~ 130 sites in US
• Band: 1240-1370 MHz, in ARNS (5.331, 5.334)
• Sensitivity: 1-2 m2 target @ 200 to 250 nmi
• Mission: Detection and tracking of aircraft at long
ranges for ATC use.
• Secondary weather detection function
• Backup for terminal radar (w/ increased separations)
• 12 second scan
• Vertical polarization for tracking; circular for weather
• Shared with Defense Department and Department of
Homeland Security
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Ground: Surveillance Radar (2 of 2)
• Terminal Radar ~ 300 sites in US
• Terminal area coverage
• 4.8 second scan
• Normally sited at airports with traffic above a
certain level
• Some are “mosaiced” allowing multiple radars
to form a single picture of the airspace
• Integral part of “procedural” response to
navigation aid outages
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 Ground: Others (1 of 2)
• Precision Approach Radar (PAR)
• Band: 9.0-9.2 GHz
• Allows controller to direct precision approaches
• Primarily military use in the US; civil back-up
• Surface Detection
• Band: 9.0-9.2 GHz (ASDE-X), 15.7-16.2 GHz (ASDE-3)
• ASDE-X for small/medium airports; currently 30 systems,
however expected to increase
• ASDE-3 installed at 40 large airports
• 1 second scan
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 Ground: Others (2 of 2)
• Weather
• NEXRAD ~ 150 sites in US
• Band: 2700-3000 MHz
• 200 nmi coverage volume
• Sited off-airport
• Series of scans in increasing altitudes, 6 minute repeat period
• Single frequency, circular polarization
• Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) ~ 45 in US
• Band: 5600-5650 MHz
• Detects wind shear and local weather phenomena
• 45 nmi coverage
• Located at major airports with history of severe thunderstorms
• Single frequency, multiple waveforms, multiple scan options
depending on local conditions.

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 Airborne Radar
• Radar altimeter
• Band: 4200-4400 MHz in ARNS
• Integral part of precision landing systems
• Also integrated into terrain-warning sensors
• Weather Radars
• Bands: 5350-5470 MHz, 8750-8850 MHz, 9.3-
9.5 GHz, 13.25-13.4 GHz
• Used for weather detection, windshear and
turbulence detection and ground mapping

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 Radar Hardware Characteristics
• Ground-based Surveillance
• Two frequency, paired with fixed delta-f (limits assignable channels)
• Diplexed for increased performance, or hot-standby (use alternate
frequency if interference detected)
• Some use of chirped or compressed waveforms
• Fan beams; newer versions with beam forming array to help provide
target altitude discrimination
• Sector blanking not allowed on commissioned radar, 360 degree coverage
required
• Ground-based Other
• PAR/ASDE-X implement 4 frequencies, however can meet performance
objectives with 2.
• ASDE-3 has 16-frequency hopset, 2 assignable hopping patterns.
• Multipath and rain attenuation offer significant challenges.
• Weather radar is generally single frequency with multiple waveforms
• Waveform selection tailored to prevailing weather patterns.
• Sector scans can be implemented to focus attention on developing problem
areas.
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 Airborne Radar Characteristics

• Radar Altimeters
• Frequency Range 4200-4400 MHz
• Center Frequency 4300 +/- 25 MHz
• Transmit power: 20 mW to 500 mW
• Range: up to 1526 Meters
• Pulse width 200 ns
• Antenna Beamwidth 70 degrees

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 Airborne Radar Characteristics
• Airborne Weather Radars
• Band: 9300-9500 MHz
• Avoidance Range 340 nm
• Transmit Power to Antenna: 35 W – 12 kW
• Pulse Width (microseconds): 1 to 28.8
• Antenna Pattern type – pencil beam
• Antenna – flat plate and flat plate slotted array

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Radar Processing Characteristics
• Radar design depends on operational
environment and performance goals. Some
offer some form of screen clutter removal
• Does not mitigate interference, simply keeps it
from showing on the controller’s screen
• Ground clutter mapping: If certain range bins keep
getting reflections from a fixed target (e.g., a
building), will notch-out those bins.
• Moving Target processing: Will not show targets
moving slower than a set threshold rate

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 Automatic Dependant Surveillance (ADS)
• Aircraft periodically provides own-ship position
and intent information (broadcast or on a contract
basis)
• Some question if ADS reduces need for radar
• Issues:
• Requires all aircraft to be equipped
• Reduces possibility of “procedural workarounds” for
navaid outages
• Requires all aircraft to participate
• How address a 9/11-like situation?
• Bottom line: Many issues need to be addressed, studies
continue.

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