Radar Q

[TVB]

Got a quick question for you. I was doing my walkaround on our saab 340 today and when I got back inside we noticed that the crew before us forgot to turn off the radar before they landed. It was in WX mode and I was probably standing right infront of the plane for a good 5-10 secs. Could this pose any problems for me in the immediate future or later on down the road? I'm generally a person who worries a lot, but I've never heard of anyone getting sick from something like this. Thanks for any advice

[wheelsup]

That is the VERY REASON I ALWAYS duck under the nose by the nose gear, I never go in front of the plane...or if I do, it's a good 10 feet in front.

That being said, normally the range of the RADAR is only about 2 feet that is harmful from what I hear, and 1 foot of that is already taken up by placing the dome back into the inside of the plane. Unless you were kissing the nose I wouldn't think it's a big deal...but I ain't no 'doc .

[SteveC]

In our aircraft the radar is disabled when on the ground unless specifically over-ridden by doing something like hitting the "Stab" button four times. Does the Saab have something similar?

[TVB]

I'm not sure about not working on the ground. I don't remember anything like that, would have to go look in the books again. I hope I wasn't less than 2 feet from it, it was tilted up a bit from when the guys were coming in for landing, maybe that helped me out

[wheelsup]

In the CRJ at least, it is not disabled on the ground.

[My Flight Surgeon]

The radar has a low wattage as I remember. The likelihood of injury is nil. There were cops who would put the radar gun between their legs when they were waitign for speeders and some became anxious about DAMAGE they mey receive. I have never seen anything about radar causing cnacer or other dammage. I suppose if you stood in front of an operating radar unit for and hour or so you would get significant energy. Might look in the manual and see what the energy level of the radar unit is - probably listed in watts or milliwatts.

[TVB]

That makes me feel better, thanks a bunch! I'll look up the wattage and post it tommorow

[dvtpilot]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

That is the VERY REASON I ALWAYS duck under the nose by the nose gear, I never go in front of the plane...or if I do, it's a good 10 feet in front.

That being said, normally the range of the RADAR is only about 2 feet that is harmful from what I hear, and 1 foot of that is already taken up by placing the dome back into the inside of the plane. Unless you were kissing the nose I wouldn't think it's a big deal...but I ain't no 'doc .

They just told me today that there was "no danger at any distance the manufacturer said.....however, they needed a hard number to assign to it, so 2 feet became the rule"

2 feet in the CRJ should be plenty. Of course, in that airplane, I'd worry more about the nose gear doors closing up while taking the pin out....

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by dvtpilot

2 feet in the CRJ should be plenty. Of course, in that airplane, I'd worry more about the nose gear doors closing up while taking the pin out....

We don't touch the pins here...purely a mx thing.

[TVB]

I've never touched the pins, we're not high class enough to push

[Bandit_Driver]

The B727 will transmit on the ground with a min safe distance of 100ft. 125 Watts
The 340A model Saab will trasmit on the ground.
The E-170 will not unless a pilot selects an override.

[Bandit_Driver]

Originally Posted by TVB

I've never touched the pins, we're not high class enough to push

Man, you are lucky. That is one greasy job pulling pins.

[My Flight Surgeon]

The power produced by airborne weather radar varies from 35 watts to 12 kilowatts. The lower wattage is what smaller A/C will have and a few feet should be a safe distance. Large A/C (Boeing, Airbus, MD) will have the more powerful units but the antenna is high enough and is focused directionally making it difficult to get right in front of it at close range where the radio frequency energy would be enough to cause injury.

[milski]

So if someone was injured that way, what kind of injury are we talking about? Is it some kind of internal burns or something similar to what you get from radiation?

[aloft]

It's just like putting a hot dog in a microwave. In fact, the original microwave oven was marketed as the "Radar Range". There is video someplace of Air Force maintenance dudes having a weenie roast, cooking their dogs by holding them on a stick in front of a fighter jet's active radar (which puts out a LOT more energy than a wx radar).

[Beechlover]

I've logged over 5000 E-3 (AWACS) hours in the back end (sitting under the APY-2 radar that puts out a HUGE amount of Trons) as a Weapons Controller. Flew on the E-3 for 17 years and always wondered about the energy we were exposed to. Have seen several ex AWACers over the years in ALL age groups develop various cancers, (Some died, some didn't) but is there really anyway to "definitively" find a specific cause. I doubt it, so..,I'm 43 now, I guess time will tell.

[My Flight Surgeon]

I have seen nothing definitive. They designed those to shield the crew (theoretically). I will do a literature search lateer today and if I find something post it.

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by aloft

It's just like putting a hot dog in a microwave. In fact, the original microwave oven was marketed as the "Radar Range". There is video someplace of Air Force maintenance dudes having a weenie roast, cooking their dogs by holding them on a stick in front of a fighter jet's active radar (which puts out a LOT more energy than a wx radar).

Heard a story once (and it may not be true) that the Navy has a rule about Destroyers not lighting off the radars while in port. Apparently, (and like I said, it may be crap, but it's funny) one of the crewmen lit off the targeting radar one day because birds were all over the antennas. Cooked five or six or them immediately, and nailed two in-flight. Dropped dead right there.

I have been TOLD (once again, it may be crap) that the targeting radar on some of those Aegis destroyers is actually powerful enough to fry the electronics on an aircraft if the wattage is turned all the way up and focused tightly enough on the plane....

[Bandit_Driver]

I don't know about the target radar as it is a lot stronger than wx, but myth busters just did a special on a Commercial Marine Ship's radar. They duct tapped a chicken to the antenna and left it on for an hour. The bird didn't even raise a degree in temp.

I have heard "war stories" of military guys goofing around and putting Aluminium foil in someone's coat pocket. When that guy walks in front of plane with its radar on the tin foil gets a little warm and sparks. Probably more story than anything.

[Beechlover]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

I have seen nothing definitive. They designed those to shield the crew (theoretically). I will do a literature search lateer today and if I find something post it.

That would be great thanks. Incidentally I did try to do a little investigating myself. The question I asked was "Had anyone (Boeing, Westinghouse, or the USAF done any studies on the long term effects of the flightcrew's exposure to E-3 RF enregy." I called several organizations that passed me on until I eventually ended up talking to someone at Boeings, Renton facility who simply referred me back to the "public relations officer" in my wing.

[seagull]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

The power produced by airborne weather radar varies from 35 watts to 12 kilowatts. The lower wattage is what smaller A/C will have and a few feet should be a safe distance. Large A/C (Boeing, Airbus, MD) will have the more powerful units but the antenna is high enough and is focused directionally making it difficult to get right in front of it at close range where the radio frequency energy would be enough to cause injury.

Any of the units installed in current aircraft are low wattage. MD, Airbus, Boeing have a 30" dish, but the power output is only 150 watts at most. Not going to cook anything, they are enhanced with better technology.

[Lee D]

Originally Posted by seagull

Any of the units installed in current aircraft are low wattage. MD, Airbus, Boeing have a 30" dish, but the power output is only 150 watts at most. Not going to cook anything, they are enhanced with better technology.

150 watts. A cheap, low power micro wave is what, 500 or 600 watts? Good information in this post.

The Brasilia flashes a yellow message to tell you that the aircraft is below 20 or 40 knots to remind you to turn it off. Never tried, but I think you can turn it on whenever.

Hmmmmm I'll have to try that when someone I don't like is in front of the radome. (Kidding of course.)