WEATHER MONITORING

SYSTEM

Introduction

Weather monitoring system provides information to

the pilots relating to the weather conditions that are
present ahead of the aircraft

It is important for the pilot to be aware of the weather

that he or she is flying towards in order to ensure the
safety of the aircraft and its occupants

Dangerous weather conditions account for 33% of all

aviation incidents

History

RADAR was first used for detecting enemy aircraft

and vessels during WWII

After the war ended, radar was introduced into the

civilian aviation industry

Once radar was introduced to the industry, it quickly

began evident that it could be used for weather
detection. Thus, airborne weather radar systems were
born

WEATHER MONITORING SYSTEM

Weather

radar

Lightning

detectors

RADAR

AIRWORTHINESS REQUIREMENT

Display of weather radar alerts, graphical representation of

weather or other hazards, and the expected pilot response to
information provided by the weather radar system should be
clear and unambiguous

The progression from green to amber/yellow to red represents

an increasing degree of threat, potential hazard, or need of
flight crew awareness or response. You should ensure the use
of color for display of weather radar system

AIRWORTHINESS REQUIREMENT

Weather radar system may interface with other systems

Weather radar system does not adversely affect the

functioning of, and is not adversely affected by, other
aircraft systems

You must document any areas where radar emissions

could be harmful to people or wildlife

LIGHTNING DETECTORS

The primary function of lightning detector is electrical

discharge detection / thunder storm
Detection & avoidance

LD use a radio receiver to sense the electrical

discharge & discharge readings are processed through a
computer and location displayed on a screen.

LIGHTNING DETECTORS

LD displays plot each stroke/discharge of lightning

over a period of time
Rate at stroke indications accumulate on the
display
It provide 360 degree view of thunder storm activity

PRIMUS LSZ 860

Major components

It can detects electrical discharges from

thunderstorms up to 200 nautical miles
away and displays the thunderstorm
locations relative to youre aircraft

It is Passive system so there is no

transmitter and no harmful transmissions so
the pilot plan before takeof

Antenna

This combined loop and sense antenna is

sealed in an aerodynamic flat-pack and
mounted on the outside of the aircraft

It detects electrical discharges associated

with thunderstorms.
The antenna is available in black or white.

Processor

This compact, tray-mounted computer

processor receives electrical discharge
information from the antenna, processes it
to determine range and azimuth

It forwards the information for presentation

on the cockpit display

The processor may be installed almost

anywhere in the aircraft

Display
The display provides control and display
functions for the processor

Functional block

Lightning Cause

The highest probability for lightning attachment to an

airplane is the outer extremities, such as the wing tip,
nose, or rudder

Lightning strikes occur most often during the climb

and descent phases of flight at an altitude of 5,000 to
15,000 feet (1,524 to 4,572 meters)

The probability of a lightning strike decreases

significantly above 20,000 feet (6,096 meters)