In Flight Scenarios – Note: The following scenarios are examples of how MultiScan in AUTO differs from MultiScan in MAN

(manual mode) or from a standard manual radar.

Quiet, Dark Cockpit (only threat weather is displayed) – During auto operation, MultiScan detects and stores in memory all the weather from the surface to well above the aircraft altitude.
MultiScan then compares cell height to the aircraft altitude. If the weather is below the flight path (i.e. non-threat weather), then it is not displayed. The quiet, dark cockpit philosophy prevents
unnecessary clutter while alerting crews to weather threats that are in the aircraft flight path. Note that the radar is able to more accurately determine cell height as the aircraft gets closer to
the cell. Therefore, when weather is close to but below the aircraft altitude, it may fall off the display as the aircraft approaches the cell.
The view is through the HUD From a distance this cell appears
combiner. The Flight Path dangerous. However, upon further
Vector (FPV) is indicating examination it can be seen that it
acceptable overflight clearance is post convective and has very little
so the weather below the substance. It is also slightly below
aircraft is NOT displayed. the aircraft flight path. Therefore,
it is not displayed.

Automatic Temperature Based Gain – Above an altitude where the outside air temperature is less than -40°C, thunderstorm cells are composed almost entirely of ice crystals, are
non-reflective and are very difficult for radar to detect. When in AUTO, MultiScan compensates for this lack of reflectivity by increasing the gain as temperature decreases. As a result, by the
time the aircraft is at cruise altitude the gain is roughly equivalent to the manual MAX gain position. MultiScan is designed to be operated in AUTO mode with gain set to CAL. Using MAX
gain while in AUTO will result in an over warning condition and pilots may be inclined to make larger deviations than the actual weather conditions require. Note: Significantly more gain is
available during AUTO operation than during MAN operation.
The view from the cockpit Manual CAL Manual MAX AUTO CAL
shows a major line of cells gain shows gain better gain and
whose tops tend to be only the represents the Manual MAX
non-reflective due to the fact thunderstorm Manual actual storm Manual gain are Auto
that they are composed almost cores and CAL Gain threat and MAX Gain essentially CAL Gain
entirely of ice crystals. displays them displays the equivalent.
as green. edges of
the cells.

What does green mean? – Older radars with insufficient gain often portrayed thunderstorm cores at cruise altitude as green (see the MAN CAL gain picture above). Because MultiScan
incorporates weather analysis and temperature based gain, significant areas of green may be displayed that are not a threat to the aircraft. In the pictures below, a storm system that is below
the aircraft can be viewed in MAN by decreasing tilt and increasing gain, albeit with ground clutter. However, MultiScan has determined the actual hazard of the clouds that extend to the
aircraft altitude and has painted them as green (non-threat). When transiting this area the aircraft experienced light chop. When using the radar in MAN mode it is always possible to adjust
the radar to get the picture you believe should be present. However, in AUTO mode the radar uses extensive weather analysis to display the actual threat.
A haze layer at the aircraft In MAN, MAX gain and MultiScan’s analysis has determined
altitude prevents the -2° down tilt are selected that the threat from the cells does
flight crew from telling if indicating a line of not extend to the aircraft’s altitude
Manual Auto
thunderstorms are present. thunderstorms in front and has painted the returns as
MAX gain CAL Gain
of the aircraft. green. Upon transit light chop may
be experienced.

NOTE: Flight crews must understand that there are display differences between AUTO and MAN and that the best threat
information is available in AUTO. AUTO mode with CAL gain is recommended during all phases of flight.
 MultiScan Threat Detection Radar MultiScan Threat Detection Radar
Controls (Airbus) Controls (Airbus)

This view from the cockpit shows significant

40 NM thunderstorm cells at 40 NM, 100 NM and 200 NM.
100 NM A fourth cell that is over the horizon is at 300 NM.
200 NM
300 NM

Features:
1. Weather is displayed from the nose of the
aircraft to 320 NM (the four cells pictured above
Weather below are clearly displayed on the ND).
the flight path
2. Ground clutter is eliminated.
3. Only threat weather is displayed. Weather below
the flight path is eliminated.

300 NM PAC Alert

4. PAC Alert: Identifies attenuated regions
MULTISCAN (MAN/AUTO) – AUTO is recommended during all phases of flight. In the AUTO (the cell at 40 NM is attenuating the radar beam
(automatic) position the radar controls tilt and gain and analyze thunderstorm threats to present preventing weather detection from behind the
200 NM cell to the yellow PAC bar). PAC Alert is active in
the best representation of the actual hazard. In the MAN (manual) position the radar functions
as a traditional radar. Automatic features including hazard analysis are disabled. The AUTO both AUTO and MAN for targets within 80 NM
position is recommended. 100 NM of the aircraft but only in CAL gain.
GAIN – During AUTO operation CAL gain provides the best representation of the actual threat 40 NM 5. Certified turbulence detection to 40 NM
and is recommended. MAX gain significantly increases the receiver sensitivity whereas MIN Turbulence on all range scales.
Detection
gain decreases receiver sensitivity. Full above and below gain control is available during both
manual and automatic operation. Increasing gain above CAL during AUTO operation will result
6. Predictive windshear.
in artificially intense returns that over emphasize the actual threat (see Automatic Temperature Note: 320 NM WX, ground clutter Important: It is recommended that
Based Gain on page 2). Caution: Selecting below CAL gain decreases receiver sensitivity and elimination and display of only threat
causes thunderstorms to appear less hazardous than is actually the case. Below CAL gain should
MultiScan be used in AUTO with CAL
weather are active only during
be used only for short time periods. The control should then be returned to the CAL gain position. gain during all phases of flight.
AUTO operation.
Some weather radar display reinterpretation will be
SYS – The center position is off. The #1 position selects the left Receiver/Transmitter (R/T). required by flight crews (see page 2 for examples).
The #2 position selects the right R/T. If only one R/T is installed the #2 position is inactive.
MODE – WX (Weather) displays weather targets as green, yellow and red threats. WX+T Key Feature:
(Weather plus Turbulence) displays the WX targets described above plus turbulence (magenta). When weather is detected in
In WX+T mode turbulence is displayed out to 40 NM on all range scales. TURB displays only AUTO, MultiScan uses satellite Traditional Threat
the magenta turbulence targets. Weather targets are not displayed. MAP mode allows ground based climatology models Radar Detection
mapping of terrain. However, weather targets are not removed from the display. to analyze cells and more
Caution: TURB eliminates the weather returns so that the turbulence can be better viewed. accurately display actual
However, significant weather information will be lost. The control should be returned to WX+T storm threats.
after a momentary evaluation in TURB.
TILT – The tilt knob is disabled during AUTO operation. The tilt knob is enabled during MAN
(manual) operation.
Important: Because MultiScan is adjusting WX thresholds to more
PWS (Predictive Windshear) – AUTO turns on automatic windshear detection (even when accurately represent actual storm threats, you will not be able to get
the radar is turned off) and is the recommended setting. OFF turns off predictive windshear. the same picture in MAN that is available in AUTO.
GCS (Ground Clutter Suppression) – GCS deactivates the ground clutter removal
algorithms and displays ground clutter. It does not function during manual radar operation.

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