Flying a commercial plane with no radar....

[Julian]

@txav8r @JetJockey (can't remember the others...need more caffeine!!!)

I had NO IDEA you were allowed to fly a commercial aircraft without radar! Learned this yesterday when we had to switch planes in ORD as Radar wasn't working on our plane, and the pilot said that as we were flying into storms in Raleigh he needed radar. So they unloaded the plane next to us (passengers already on board) that was headed to Dallas, and we took their plane and they got the one without radar.....

I just thought.....I wonder if they told them why we swapped!

 

[Chillypilot]

In Canada you only need WX radar if there are forecasted thunderstorms on your route. I think the same rule applies in the States.

 

[Julian]

In Canada you only need WX radar if there are forecasted thunderstorms on your route. I think the same rule applies in the States.

Interesting....but in NC....there can be nothing at 2pm, and then big storms at 3pm....

Is there a difference between WX radar and traffic radar?

 

[txav8r]

Yes, a very big difference. Wx radar is just that, although we have had traffic avoidance in out cockpits or a good time now, and that is displayed on many radar screens. But ATC has most if the air traffic radar. For us, it is see and avoid. And if thunderstorms are not in she forecast or reported, it would be the captains prerogative to accept or decline an aircraft with broken equipment but legally dispatch able. Just
Because it is legal doesn't make it prudent, but wx radar is only good for looking at wx generally, so if there isn't any, it would be justifiable.

 

[jawsf16]

I have flown with three types of radar. A Fire Control Radar (FCR) which is by far the best of the three options. Allows you to track multiple targets at long range both on the ground and in the air, and has some limited weather radar capabilities. A Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) which is not as precise as an FCR in its display and update rates, but has the ability to track TCAS targets behind the aircraft (an FCR is limited to forward of the wing line) and it has no weather radar capability. A Weather Radar has awesome thunderstorm picking capability and is absolutley essential for flying through forecast weather in a PAX plane. Echo Mel's statement that legal and prudent are two different things. Much like I would not operate an F-16 without an FCR in a mission environment, I certainly would not operate a PAX plane without a Weather Radar if there was any hint of bad weather potential.

 

[Julian]

Love learning from ya'll! Thanks! I felt bad for those heading to Dallas on a "broken" plane....but they had no weather...so I guess no WX radar needed....(hope it wasn't you Mel!)