Curious newbie (about WX radar)
 

Hi all, I am just curious about Wx Radar. Does it get accidentally left on ever, like when the airplane is taxied into the ramp?

My real question is what about all the people who stand at the end of the runways, taking pictures and videos of approaching aircraft; does it do harm to them??? I always wanted to stand there, but now that I know what I know about Wx Radar, which isn't much, I don't think I want to stand there anymore... (especially in countries other than the U.S.A. where laws are more slack)

Wx Radar-->:eek:

I've never seen one accidentally left on, but I'm sure it's happened.

The "danger" zone of the radar is only 2-3 feet in front of the aircraft as modern radars are only about 25 watts. Also, when we're dow low (approach/departure) or on the ground it's tilted several degrees up to get a better look at the weather.

I.E., your flashlight and batteries are perfectly safe, if you know what I mean.

Yeah, you'd probably have to be INSIDE the nosecone to get hurt by a brief exposure.

I was irradiated by the radar on a CRJ. Figured it out during my preflight after the previous crew left it on. I came around the nose (about 10" from the radome) and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

So far I've had no ill effeccccckkkkkkkktttzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

On some aircraft with predictive windshear, as long as one engine is running, the radar is radiating and you don't even know it. After years of being careful about personel close to the radome, when I bought this up during recurrent, I was told " it doesn't matter anymore". Granted, the habit was ingrained with the older, much more powerful radars.