Garmin 396 Weather avoidance..

"Doug Vetter" wrote:
I always stay clear of red, since it's always convective.

Not always, but it is probably safest to assume it is.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

Third, you need to understand that delayed weather is not a tactical
weather avoidance device.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I wish I had an easy answer for you. However, wx is a non-trivial
subject. There are two ways you can make use of your 396 in wx. First,
you can fly with a CFI who is experienced in flying cross country.
Second you can start out very, very conservative and learn as you go
how the wx on your 396 affects your flight.

-Robert, CFI


Dan wrote:

For those of you with a Garmin 396, how do you avoid dangerous weather,
avoid yellow and steer clear of the lightning strike indications? I am
considering the purchase of one and am wondering how to use the info
safely, but yet with the maximum utility.

Dan

Bob,

Was this a center or approach control facility and more
specifically, was the weather info display primary or
NEXRAD? If NEXRAD, did they discuss the amount
of delay in the weather info on the controller's display? I'm
wondering if it is significantly shorter? I know the satellite
broadcast distribution adds some additional delay, but as I
undersrand it, NEXRAD radar systems take a few minutes
to build the composite view from several sweeps. Point is,
the controller's display may be a few minutes old as well.

Also, as you point out, the weather chances quickly and
the radar is only showing precip. Thus, it is not showing
the radid air currents of a developing storm. Until you have
experienced being sucked up into a radily developing convective
storm by flying through an area that your StrikeFinder and ATC
agreed was the best path, you don't fully appreciate how danerous
this type of weather can be.

I second your recommendation to stay well clear of this type of
weather.

Ronnie


"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
. ..
The first thing you need to understand is that the weather you see on the
396 is several minutes old...possibly as much as eleven minutes. So you
need to watch the display and figure out which way the echoes are going,
and plan on passing them on the upwind side. Then you need to realize that
radar reflects only decent size rain droplets, not vertical currents, not
the tops of clouds, not turbulence. Bottom line is: Stay well clear of
anything green...yellow and red go without saying. If you have to get into
the green, make the incursion as short as possible.

Saw a revealing presentation at a NATCA controller's conference. They
showed a slide with several large cells being displayed, and indicated the
position of a 172 when the scenario began. The pilot told the controller
that if he could have a certain heading, he would be clear of the cell he
saw on his screen and could proceed to his destination. Unfortunately, by
the time he got to the geographical area which was nice and clear on his
cockpit display at the time he asked for the heading, the cell had moved
directly into his path with predictable results. The message to the
controllers in attendance was "What the pilot sees in the cockpit and real
life are two different things."

Bob Gardner

"Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...

For those of you with a Garmin 396, how do you avoid dangerous weather,
avoid yellow and steer clear of the lightning strike indications? I am
considering the purchase of one and am wondering how to use the info
safely, but yet with the maximum utility.

Dan

Honestly don't know whether it was Center or terminal, but I suspect that it
was Center. The whole discussion was about delays. In precipitation mode,
the image is updated every 4 to 6 minutes. This link gives the NWS
explanation of NEXRAD.
http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/radinfo/radinfo.html. The WARP (Weather and
Radar Processor) system, which is the weather display at Center consoles,
suggests further delays as the radar information is processed (duh). I have
been beating the drums, writing letters to the editor, etc, to try to
eliminate the phrase "real-time weather" from articles and advertisements.
NO ONE gets real-time weather, not even the folks at the NWS radar sites.

Because the presentation was by the Air Safety Foundation, you might find
more info on their web site.

Bob


"Ronnie" wrote in message
. com...
Bob,

Was this a center or approach control facility and more
specifically, was the weather info display primary or
NEXRAD? If NEXRAD, did they discuss the amount
of delay in the weather info on the controller's display? I'm
wondering if it is significantly shorter? I know the satellite
broadcast distribution adds some additional delay, but as I
undersrand it, NEXRAD radar systems take a few minutes
to build the composite view from several sweeps. Point is,
the controller's display may be a few minutes old as well.

Also, as you point out, the weather chances quickly and
the radar is only showing precip. Thus, it is not showing
the radid air currents of a developing storm. Until you have
experienced being sucked up into a radily developing convective
storm by flying through an area that your StrikeFinder and ATC
agreed was the best path, you don't fully appreciate how danerous
this type of weather can be.

I second your recommendation to stay well clear of this type of
weather.

Ronnie


"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
. ..
The first thing you need to understand is that the weather you see on the
396 is several minutes old...possibly as much as eleven minutes. So you
need to watch the display and figure out which way the echoes are going,
and plan on passing them on the upwind side. Then you need to realize
that radar reflects only decent size rain droplets, not vertical
currents, not the tops of clouds, not turbulence. Bottom line is: Stay
well clear of anything green...yellow and red go without saying. If you
have to get into the green, make the incursion as short as possible.

Saw a revealing presentation at a NATCA controller's conference. They
showed a slide with several large cells being displayed, and indicated
the position of a 172 when the scenario began. The pilot told the
controller that if he could have a certain heading, he would be clear of
the cell he saw on his screen and could proceed to his destination.
Unfortunately, by the time he got to the geographical area which was nice
and clear on his cockpit display at the time he asked for the heading,
the cell had moved directly into his path with predictable results. The
message to the controllers in attendance was "What the pilot sees in the
cockpit and real life are two different things."

Bob Gardner

"Dan" wrote in message
oups.com...

For those of you with a Garmin 396, how do you avoid dangerous weather,
avoid yellow and steer clear of the lightning strike indications? I am
considering the purchase of one and am wondering how to use the info
safely, but yet with the maximum utility.

Dan

I'm not aware of ATC displaying NEXRAD although I suppose it's possible.
We display real time weather in the TRACON up to six seconds old.

Ronnie wrote:

Bob,

Was this a center or approach control facility and more
specifically, was the weather info display primary or
NEXRAD? If NEXRAD, did they discuss the amount
of delay in the weather info on the controller's display? I'm
wondering if it is significantly shorter? I know the satellite
broadcast distribution adds some additional delay, but as I
undersrand it, NEXRAD radar systems take a few minutes
to build the composite view from several sweeps. Point is,
the controller's display may be a few minutes old as well.

Also, as you point out, the weather chances quickly and
the radar is only showing precip. Thus, it is not showing
the radid air currents of a developing storm. Until you have
experienced being sucked up into a radily developing convective
storm by flying through an area that your StrikeFinder and ATC
agreed was the best path, you don't fully appreciate how danerous
this type of weather can be.

I second your recommendation to stay well clear of this type of
weather.

Ronnie


"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
. ..

The first thing you need to understand is that the weather you see on the
396 is several minutes old...possibly as much as eleven minutes. So you
need to watch the display and figure out which way the echoes are going,
and plan on passing them on the upwind side. Then you need to realize that
radar reflects only decent size rain droplets, not vertical currents, not
the tops of clouds, not turbulence. Bottom line is: Stay well clear of
anything green...yellow and red go without saying. If you have to get into
the green, make the incursion as short as possible.

Saw a revealing presentation at a NATCA controller's conference. They
showed a slide with several large cells being displayed, and indicated the
position of a 172 when the scenario began. The pilot told the controller
that if he could have a certain heading, he would be clear of the cell he
saw on his screen and could proceed to his destination. Unfortunately, by
the time he got to the geographical area which was nice and clear on his
cockpit display at the time he asked for the heading, the cell had moved
directly into his path with predictable results. The message to the
controllers in attendance was "What the pilot sees in the cockpit and real
life are two different things."

Bob Gardner

"Dan" wrote in message
groups.com...

For those of you with a Garmin 396, how do you avoid dangerous weather,
avoid yellow and steer clear of the lightning strike indications? I am
considering the purchase of one and am wondering how to use the info
safely, but yet with the maximum utility.

Dan

Bob Gardner wrote:

Honestly don't know whether it was Center or terminal, but I suspect that it
was Center. The whole discussion was about delays. In precipitation mode,
the image is updated every 4 to 6 minutes. This link gives the NWS
explanation of NEXRAD.
http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/radinfo/radinfo.html. The WARP (Weather and
Radar Processor) system, which is the weather display at Center consoles,
suggests further delays as the radar information is processed (duh). I have
been beating the drums, writing letters to the editor, etc, to try to
eliminate the phrase "real-time weather" from articles and advertisements.
NO ONE gets real-time weather, not even the folks at the NWS radar sites.

Only airborne weather radar provides real-time echos.

Bob Gardner wrote:
NO ONE gets real-time weather, not even
the folks at the NWS radar sites.

ATC gets real time weather, updated every six seconds.

Dan wrote:
For those of you with a Garmin 396, how do you avoid dangerous weather,
avoid yellow and steer clear of the lightning strike indications? I am
considering the purchase of one and am wondering how to use the info
safely, but yet with the maximum utility.

Dan

I've had a 396 for a year, but not that much weather flying with it. I
drive a lot and it's fun to analyze from the ground.

I think one of the big dangers as mentioned here before it getting into
a rapidly building tower cumulous which might not show up if you're in
the soup with your 396. I remember in Robert Buck's book "Weather
Flying" I think he said the worst turbulence he ever experienced was
in a cloud that hadn't produced rain yet.

My solution is to try to stay either above to see the buildups, or
below and avoid the rain shafts. But the 396 can also be used to find
areas of less cloud cover and lower tops. The echo tops have that
feature where you can scroll through the altitudes and watch where
cloud appears. Then you can just look for the holes in the regular
satellite display.

So to me the trick it so combine all these: The 396 weather features,
what image ATC is painting, the overall weather picture to determine if
the ingredients for convection are there, what you see out the window,
PIREPS and ride reports, tactical weather flying to try to keep
yourself visual as much as possible. Green or yellow may be fine on
days when you know there is little chance of buildups. But if green is
next to a steep gradient of yellow, into orange to red. Steer clear.

I think the 396 is an amazing tool. You can sit on the ground in your
airplane and it's almost like having the internet in your lap. I sat
on the ramp at Midway a few weeks ago and waited for a hole in the
weather using the 396. I practice with Elite simulator which will now
drive your 396 plugged into a serial port. I can put the satellite
antenna out the window to get real weather, download through Elite and
the internet real weather, and I can do near real time weather practice
sim flying. And you get a great automotive navigator for a few extra
bucks. ... akiley

That's not what the NWS web page says, and it's not what I was told by the
local NWS folks. The whole discussion at the NATCA "Communicating for
Safety" conference had to do with the delays between real-time and WARP
experienced by Center controllers. One point made was that Radar and Weather
Processing involves (duh) processing, and six seconds was never mentioned.

Something is missing here, and I'm not sure where to look. But I have a ZSE
controller I can check with.

Bob Gardner

"Newps" wrote in message
. ..
I'm not aware of ATC displaying NEXRAD although I suppose it's possible.
We display real time weather in the TRACON up to six seconds old.

Ronnie wrote:

Bob,

Was this a center or approach control facility and more
specifically, was the weather info display primary or
NEXRAD? If NEXRAD, did they discuss the amount
of delay in the weather info on the controller's display? I'm
wondering if it is significantly shorter? I know the satellite
broadcast distribution adds some additional delay, but as I
undersrand it, NEXRAD radar systems take a few minutes
to build the composite view from several sweeps. Point is,
the controller's display may be a few minutes old as well.

Also, as you point out, the weather chances quickly and
the radar is only showing precip. Thus, it is not showing
the radid air currents of a developing storm. Until you have
experienced being sucked up into a radily developing convective
storm by flying through an area that your StrikeFinder and ATC
agreed was the best path, you don't fully appreciate how danerous
this type of weather can be.

I second your recommendation to stay well clear of this type of
weather.

Ronnie


"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
. ..

The first thing you need to understand is that the weather you see on the
396 is several minutes old...possibly as much as eleven minutes. So you
need to watch the display and figure out which way the echoes are going,
and plan on passing them on the upwind side. Then you need to realize
that radar reflects only decent size rain droplets, not vertical
currents, not the tops of clouds, not turbulence. Bottom line is: Stay
well clear of anything green...yellow and red go without saying. If you
have to get into the green, make the incursion as short as possible.

Saw a revealing presentation at a NATCA controller's conference. They
showed a slide with several large cells being displayed, and indicated
the position of a 172 when the scenario began. The pilot told the
controller that if he could have a certain heading, he would be clear of
the cell he saw on his screen and could proceed to his destination.
Unfortunately, by the time he got to the geographical area which was nice
and clear on his cockpit display at the time he asked for the heading,
the cell had moved directly into his path with predictable results. The
message to the controllers in attendance was "What the pilot sees in the
cockpit and real life are two different things."

Bob Gardner

"Dan" wrote in message
egroups.com...

For those of you with a Garmin 396, how do you avoid dangerous weather,
avoid yellow and steer clear of the lightning strike indications? I am
considering the purchase of one and am wondering how to use the info
safely, but yet with the maximum utility.

Dan

I'm guessing that a very small percentage of those who frequent this
newsgroup fly airplanes with onboard weather radar. OTOH, there are hundreds
if not thousands who have multifunction displays. My comments are directed
to that group.

Bob Gardner

"Sam Spade" wrote in message
news:QbGig.178785$bm6.92301@fed1read04...
Bob Gardner wrote:

Honestly don't know whether it was Center or terminal, but I suspect that
it was Center. The whole discussion was about delays. In precipitation
mode, the image is updated every 4 to 6 minutes. This link gives the NWS
explanation of NEXRAD.
http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/radinfo/radinfo.html. The WARP (Weather and
Radar Processor) system, which is the weather display at Center consoles,
suggests further delays as the radar information is processed (duh). I
have been beating the drums, writing letters to the editor, etc, to try
to eliminate the phrase "real-time weather" from articles and
advertisements. NO ONE gets real-time weather, not even the folks at the
NWS radar sites.

Only airborne weather radar provides real-time echos.