TEST AND EVALUATION OF SIX WIRE-WOUND TACTICAL AIR NAVIGATION AID (TACAN) HEATED RADOMES WITH WEATHER SENSORS

This report covers the field evaluation of six wire-wound tactical air navigation aid (TACAN) heated radomes and weather-sensing systems from October 1974 through April 1975 installed on very high frequency omnirange/TACAN station's (VORTAC's) at (1) Mullan Pass, Idaho, (2) Lakeview, Oregon, (3) Elko, Nevada, (4) Denver, Colorado, (5) Rochester, Minnesota, and (6) Clarion, Pennsylvania. The purpose was to evaluate these six prototype TACAN radomes, with embedded wire-wound heaters, to determine their effectiveness in preventing weather effects due to snow and/or ice accumulation at these six selected VORTAC facilities. Analysis of the data which were collected during the 6 months of testing indicates that the wire-wound radome, when modified with improved control stabilization circuit and adjusted for optimum operation, was effective in minimizing the accumulation of ice and/or snow on the vertical surface of the radome. Several modifications were developed by site personnel to reduce or prevent excessive hunting by the various control circuitry. Further test and evaluation should be performed during the next winter to determine the most effective approach before any recommendation for field implementation. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center

  Federal Aviation Administration
  Atlantic City, NJ  United States  08405
• Authors:
  • Postel, H
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 49 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Deicing; Deicing chemicals; Electrical equipment; Heaters; Heating (Structures); Ice prevention; Radar antennas; Radomes; Snow removal; Tactical air navigation system; Temperature measuring instruments
• Old TRIS Terms: Electric heaters; Wire wound construction
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00146058
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FAA-RD-76-130 Intrm Rpt., FAA-NA-75-67
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM