Originally Posted by John Pennekamp (Post 629531)

Thank you professor! In my 8000 hours (3000 in a CRJ) I think I have a good grasp of how to use radar! I paint ground at 80 miles and +2. if you tilt it above that, you still see nothing.

If you point the radar to -2 at FL300 all you see is the ground more than 20 miles out. That's as useless as your advice. Let me know when you get typed on the plane.

Originally Posted by IBPilot (Post 629482)

no internet tough guy.....per FOM/cfm you can only fly in cruise .70 or LRC, whichever is less.

Originally Posted by John Pennekamp (Post 629537)

That's asinine. We fly our CRJs at .65 all the time in accordance with our ECON SPEED (ACARS fuel saving program). It isn't going to fall out of the sky below .70!!!

Originally Posted by fosters (Post 629560)

It'll actually be around 40 miles (try it, I promise), and it's the way you're supposed to do it to get an accurate depiction of what you are painting. Because of the size of the RJ's RADAR 40-45 miles is the limit of it correctly picking up returns at altitude. Larger domes can go out 80 miles or so.

If you still don't believe me, look to an expert - David Gwinn. Gwinn's stuff is actually on Sporty's.

How Radar Works (Booklet and Audio CD) - Sporty's Pilot Shop

I've flown with 30+ year CA's who thought the RADAR was connected to the plane and when titled up +10 on departure was really tilted +25 because of the deck angle on the plane. Just because you've flown 8000 hours doesn't mean you don't know how to use the RADAR (don't worry, most don't).

Your way works OK for en route avoidance when you have a lot of space to go around cells. But it's not the most accurate way to do it.

Originally Posted by Airsupport (Post 629567)

dont bother fosters. if you read his posts in other threads this captain cant be taught a thing.

Originally Posted by Airsupport (Post 628904)

if that is how you are using the radar you are using it incorrectly. at fl300 the radar should almost always be in the negative tilt. the crj radar is actually pretty good, you just have to know how to use it.

the correct way to use the radar on the crj 200 is as follows.

choose a distance you want to use. the 80-160 is not very effective but
still can be used to see larger items further away.

the best distances are the 20-40 or the 40-80.

the way to use the radar is set the distance you want to look at. then tilt the radar down till you begin to paint ground and you can see a fairly solid green arc at the furthest distance on your screen. once you have established a good ground paint arc then you can begin to watch for weather. the ground arc should stay at the same distance at all times unless you adjust the tilt again. ANYTHING that comes out of the ground arc you have been painting and comes closer to the plane is an area of weather and thunderstorms. you also at the higher altitudes want to point the tilt down a little more than normal. the crj doesn't pic up frozen precip so at the higher altitudes it wont paint storms unless you are pointing down below the freezing level.

so in review.

Point radar so that you get a good solid arc of ground clutter at the furthest distance for the range you have chosen. the ground clutter should stay the exact same distance from you.

If something moves closer to you out of the ground clutter it is an area of weather and should be avoided.

Originally Posted by John Pennekamp (Post 629531)

Thank you professor! In my 8000 hours (3000 in a CRJ) I think I have a good grasp of how to use radar! I paint ground at 80 miles and +2. if you tilt it above that, you still see nothing.

If you point the radar to -2 at FL300 all you see is the ground more than 20 miles out. That's as useless as your advice. Let me know when you get typed on the plane.

Originally Posted by John Pennekamp (Post 629540)

I believe it. Since Flagship moved into ATL, I've heard some stuff on the radio that blew me away. And I've actually heard similar conversations to the above on the ERLIN arrival.

Originally Posted by mooney (Post 630070)

in my 7000 crj hours I am going to say Airsupport is right. And yes I am typed in the AC.........and every radar i have ever used, the way Air describes it is the way I was taught. Being at FL300 and having the tilt at +2, you're only gonna be painting a cell if it is really tall and right in front of you.

Originally Posted by Airsupport (Post 629558)

lol, vintage pennekamp. i am not the only one who thinks you dont know how to use the radar.. and i just might have a type in the crj and i now know i do have more hours in the plane than you. but since you know all i don't have to explain that to you. and its not professor, you can call me doctor.

Originally Posted by John Pennekamp (Post 630073)

Yeah... 80 miles. The max range of the radar (duh).

Originally Posted by mooney (Post 630072)

You mean like the ASA conversation last week that went something like this.....
"clearance ASA 5000 IFR ATL"
ATC..."clearance on request"
ASA..."yes sir, I just requested it. IFR ATL."
etc, you can see where this is going. Theres some at every airline John, even yours...