Aviation Weather Radar Quick Reference Guide (QRG)

INTRODUCTION

This Airborne Weather Radar Quick Reference Guide was developed by your Garmin Aviation team to provide a means to familiarize pilots with the basic operating principles of airborne weather radar and the operation of Garmin radar systems. It is designed as a resource for use by students who have subscribed to the Garmin Aviation Weather Radar web-based course, or by those attending the in-person, instructor-led course. Use of this guide without the accompanying training may produce less than desired results.

The objective of this guide is to enable pilots to make the most effective use of Garmin airborne weather radar systems. Guidance is provided for identifying and interpreting precipitation returns, as well as setting up your radar system for each phase of flight.

Garmin encourages you to become familiar with the contents of this guide, and to practice using your radar system on every flight you make. This will greatly increase your familiarity with the radar system and provide you with the proficiency you will need for those times when convective weather is present.

The material begins with some general principles and is followed by phase of flight settings that provide initial guidance for range, tilt, and gain settings when investigating weather. These settings should be explored in your aircraft in the environments where you fly, and adjustments made as necessary.

KEY POINT: Airborne weather radar is a tool for use in avoiding hazardous precipitation and associated turbulence. It should never be used to penetrate areas of thunderstorm activity. Areas of intense precipitation can significantly attenuate RADAR signals, potentially concealing intense returns beyond the observed area of strong returns.

Select the TABLE OF CONTENTS to choose a subject for review.