Terminal Doppler weather radar (TDWR) coverage of satellite airports

The Federal Aviation Administration´s (FAA) Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) system detects and reports hazardous weather in and around airport terminal approach and departure zones. The TDWR identifies and warns air traffic controllers (ATCs) of low altitude wind shear hazards caused by microbursts and gust fronts, in addition to reporting on precipitation intensities and providing advanced warning of wind shifts. The ATCs use the TDWR reports to warn pilots who are potentially affected by the hazardous weather patterns. TDWR antennas are located near but not on a primary airport site. Usually there is at least one secondary-or satellite-airport within the hazardous weather detection range of the TDWR. Since it is not economically practicable to provide these satellite airports with TDWR systems, this FAA-sponsored analysis examines the feasibility of extending primary airport TDWR coverage to serve satellite airports