Polarimetric radar for civil aircrafts to support pilots´ decision in bad weather conditions

This paper presents and discusses some results of a specific Weather Radar Post-Processor software that provides weather classification maps and related binary risk maps after the processing of dual polarization airborne X band radar outputs. Weather classification maps and binary risk maps are used as input to decision support systems for aircraft pilots in case of bad weather conditions. The software runs inside an Electronic Flight Bag and the results shown here are obtained using true flight plans coming from the flight management system of an ATR72 flight simulator. Dual polarization avionic X band radar outputs are generated assuming true weather scenarios with a radar signal simulation software developed by the research team of the Radar and Surveillance Systems Laboratory of CNIT.