Description / Abstract: PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Introduction

This document contains Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Airborne Radar Systems that may include any combination of the following functions: weather detection, ground mapping, forward-looking windshear detection, forward-looking turbulence detection, or atmospheric threat awareness capability.

These standards specify system characteristics that should be useful to designers, manufacturers, installers, and users of the equipment. The requirements defined in Subsection 2.1 and Paragraphs 2.2.1, 2.2.2, and 2.2.5 of this MOPS are applicable to both rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft. Paragraph 2.2.5 can be used to address the indication of turbulent conditions or microburst events ahead of the aircraft for rotorcraft. This document does not define the MOPS for forward-looking windshear or turbulence detection capability for rotorcraft.

Compliance with these standards is one means of assuring that the equipment will perform its intended function(s) satisfactorily under all conditions normally encountered in routine aeronautical operation. Any regulatory application of this document is the sole responsibility of appropriate governmental agencies.

Section 1 of this document provides information needed to understand the rationale for equipment characteristics and requirements stated in the remaining sections. It describes typical equipment operations and operational goals, as envisioned by the members of Special Committee 230, and establishes the basis for the standards stated in Sections 2 and 3. This section also contains definitions and assumptions essential to proper understanding of this document.

Section 2 contains the Minimum Performance Standards for the equipment. These standards specify the required performance under standard environmental conditions. Also included are recommended test procedures necessary to demonstrate equipment compliance with the stated minimum requirements.

Section 3 describes the performance required of installed equipment. Tests for the installed equipment are included when performance cannot be adequately determined otherwise.

Section 4 describes the operational performance characteristics for equipment installations and defines conditions that will assure the equipment user that the expected operational environment will allow safe and reliable operation of the equipment.

Appendix A, a normative appendix, describes the windshear database developed for the certification testing of airborne forward-looking windshear detection systems, and defines the test scenarios used for this testing. It also includes considerations associated with the use of the windshear test set-up

Appendix B, an informative appendix, includes plots associated with the windshear data sets.

Appendix C, a normative appendix, describes the analytical technique for evaluation of windshear missed events and nuisance alerts.

Appendix D, an informative appendix, contains historical information and derivations that may be useful to the radar designer.

The word “equipment” as used herein includes all components or units necessary (as determined by the equipment manufacturer or installer) for the equipment to properly perform its function. For example, the airborne radar "equipment" may include a radome, an antenna, antenna mounting, transmission line, a receiver/transmitter unit, a control/display unit, shock mounts, etc. In this illustrative example, all these components or units comprise the "equipment.” It should not be inferred from the example that every equipment configuration will necessarily include (or be limited to) all these components or units. This will depend on the design chosen by the equipment manufacturer and the techniques of the installer.

Throughout this document, refer to the latest available revision of all reference material unless otherwise specified.