Telephonics RT-1601 RT

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Pilot’s GuideRDR-1600

Color Weather and

Search and Rescue Radar

TM106101 August 2001

Command Systems Division

TM106101(8/01) RDR-1600 Pilot’s Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PARAGRAPH TITLE

PAGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

2.0 SYSTEM CONFIGURATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2.1 ANTENNA AND RECEIVER-TRANSMITTER . . . . . . .3

2.2 RADAR DISPLAY INDICATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

3.0 OPERATIONAL CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

3.1 FUNCTION SELECTOR – CP-113K

CONTROL PANEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

3.2 ANTENNA CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

3.3 DISPLAY CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

3.4 PRIMARY MODE SELECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

3.5 SECONDARY MODE SELECTOR AND GAIN

CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

3.6 ALPHANUMERICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

4.0 PREFLIGHT (PFT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

4.1 PREFLIGHT WARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

5.0 THEORY OF OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

5.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

5.2 RADAR PRINCIPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

5.3 WEATHER RADAR PRINCIPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

5.4 RADAR REFLECTIVITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

5.5 WEATHER DISPLAY CALIBRATION . . . . . . . . . . . .15

5.6 WEATHER ATTENUATION COMPENSATION . . . . .16

6.0 WEATHER OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

6.1 WEATHER MODE – WX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

6.2 WEATHER ALERT MODE – WXA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

6.3 TARGET ALERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

6.4 WEATHER MAPPING AND INTERPRETATION . . . .20

6.5 OBSERVING WEATHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

6.5.1 Thunderstorms and Turbulence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

6.5.2 Tornadoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

6.5.3 Hail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

6.5.4 Icing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

6.5.5 Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

6.5.6 Lightning and Static Discharges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

6.5.7 Range Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

6.5.8 Azimuth Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

6.5.9 Indicator Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

6.5.10 Short Range Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

6.6 PATH PLANNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

6.6.1 Path Planning Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

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Summary

System Configuration Overview

Antenna and Receiver-Transmitter Components

Radar Display Indicator Functionality

Operational Controls and Settings

Function Selector Panel Operation

Details the function selector switch positions (OFF, STBY, TEST, ON, 60°) for system operation.

Primary Mode Selection Buttons

Describes the Wx, WxA, SRCH, and BCN mode selection buttons for different operational modes.

Preflight Checks and Warnings

Preflight System Test and Safety

Details the preflight system test procedure and crucial safety warning regarding operating near ground personnel or fuel.

Theory of Radar Operation

Weather Attenuation Compensation

Explains radar attenuation due to distance and precipitation and the system's compensation features.

Weather Operations and Interpretation

WX Mode: Standard Weather Display

Describes the standard weather presentation mode with color-coded precipitation levels for planning avoidance maneuvers.

WXA Mode: Weather Alert

Details the WxA mode with flashing red returns and Target Alert feature to highlight severe weather activity.

Target Alert Functionality

Explains the TGT ALRT flash indication in WxA mode for weather returns detected beyond the displayed range.

Observing Weather Phenomena

Path Planning for Weather Avoidance

Provides essential guidance for planning flight paths to safely avoid severe weather echoes and turbulence.

Search Operations Modes

Antenna Tilt Management

Antenna Tilt Control Operation

Explains how antenna tilt management is crucial for obtaining storm size and relative direction information.

Tilt Performance Check Procedure

Details a procedure for checking radar system performance by observing ground returns and adjusting antenna tilt.

Early Detection of Enroute Weather

Provides steps to optimize radar for identifying significant weather using antenna tilt and display settings.

Antenna Stabilization System

System Specifications