diamondaviators.net

Has anyone done the Garmin weather radar course? I am new to weather radar and have read the instruction manual several times but just want to know all the nuances of it to get the best out of it.
I see Garmin has an online course for about $200 AUD.
Has anyone done it or heard any reviews?
Cheers
David

Haven't done anything other than read Chapter 6.4 of the Garmin G1000 Pilot’s Guide for the Diamond DA42NG, but I can tell you that it is both comprehensive and concise. The recommended initial tilt setup technique (paint ground returns at a range of your AGL altitude divided by 1,000, then add 6 degrees) works great. Used it all summer in Southeast USA, dodging lots of Cumulo-Boomulo.

Altitude compensating tilt works really well, by the way. Lowers workload not only during descent and approach, but during climbout, as it remembers my last tilt setting. As a matter of fact, I seldom need to adjust tilt at all.

Rob
Thanks. I have read the relevant chapter several times. It is as you say concise and very good. I therefore was wondering what else would be in the online course for $200.
Other aviation websites have recommendations on “doing a class”, so I was intrigued as to what else there is to know. I want to know what I don’t know.
Cheers
David

Hi David -

I could not find the GWX 68 or 70 (GWX70 in your plane?) manuals online to look at so I'll add this caveat - refer to your manual for specifics of operation.

With that in mind, here are a couple of videos I've found to help you with "WX radar" learning! These are for specific systems, but have good "generic" radar usage techniques throughout the videos - I've scanned through the videos and marked some relevant points on them.

Honeywell RDR2000/2100 video
https://youtu.be/O4UxlOBvTkI
13:55 rainfall gradients and storm shape examples
16:00 radar attenuation and shadows
23:45 Weather avoidance -Tilt and range management
36:35 "Useful Weather evaluation and avoidance techniques"
37:40 "embedded thunderstorms" and tilt control
39:30 "Operation Guidelines for a typical flight"
Use the recommended settings from your Garmin manual

Bendix Arinc 700 Pilot training video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmRYNIghm9M
10:40 basic "how to use weather radar"
13:40 "radar attenuation and radar shadows"
(This video seems very similar to the Honeywell video)

In about 6 months, I'll know more about the GWX70 - until then, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of our DA62!

Please let me know if you find these videos helpful.....

John
(Ps: I sent you a PM last night also)

I have not done the Garmin course. I have taken Eric Eliel's course. He's an amazing resource. http://www.rtiradar.com/about/about_eric.html I highly recommend him. I've had two planes with the GWX68 and now fly with the 70. The 70 is a really nice improvement.

Paul and John
Thanks for the suggestions. I now have something to do with my Sunday afternoon!
I did the Garmin course and it certainly gives more detail than the manual. Certainly learned some new points.
I will go off and have a look at the videos and report back.

The videos were great. I really learned a lot. Looking at these gives a lot of knowledge while the Garmin course puts it into one specific platform. If I’d seen the videos I might have saved myself $200!
David

Thanks for the update David!

Did the Garmin course have as much about "radar interpretation" as the "free" videos?
I think learning to "interpret" the different radar pictures is something very had to learn by "experience".
I'm glad to hear you consider the videos worthwhile!

John

John
The Garmin course does have quite a lot on interpretation as well. They run a scenario as well, taking you step by step, though it was less useful to me as it also covers NEXRAD which we don’t have in Australia.
David

Thanks David!