Airborne Weather Surveillance Radars for Increasing Air Transport Safety

摘要

The main focus of this paper is aimed at the possibilities of mutual influence of ground and airborne weather surveillance radars (WSR) from the operation in approximately same frequency band viewpoint. Specialized technical and legal details of the problem are being discussed in the paper. The problem arose during air transport safety assessment in the vicinity of airports under unfavourable meteorological conditions, when a large number of weather radars of the same type are being used at a relatively small area. This is the consequence of the fact that each aircraft is equipped with weather radar working at frequency band 9.3 ÷ 9.5GHz. From the security viewpoint, these radars have irreplaceable position in informing the pilot of the meteorological situation ahead of the flying aircraft. Popularity of these weather radars with producers and operators on board the aircraft is also based on their small dimensions, relatively simple design, quality and reliability of processing and displaying of meteorological situation for the pilot. The need to be informed of the meteorological situation in the vicinity of the airport is also necessary for the ATCs. Besides, it is the interest of radar network operators to use their meteorological information for commercial purposes. Increasing the number of these weather radars working side by side in a limited space at the frequency band only 200Hz wide inspires justifiable questions connected with electromagnetic compatibility and possible mutual interference.