Honeywell Expands IntuVue RDR-7000 Radar Capabilities

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies has expanded its IntuVue RDR-7000 3D weather radar technology with the addition of a ground-based weather detection application. The U.S. company believes this will be a welcome addition for general aviation airport operators, who can use the system to support greater situational awareness.

The RDR-7000 ground radar solution “provides volumetric 3D scanning for a more complete and accurate view of weather conditions compared with conventional systems,” according to Honeywell. This includes the ability to detect potentially hazardous weather phenomena, such as wind shear and thunderstorms, in low-altitude environments.

The ground-based element has been designed to support pre-departure planning and low-altitude operations, helping airports and operators make safer flight decisions.

This extended capability augments the existing RDR-7000 system, which is available for a variety of aircraft and was unveiled in 2019. It gained FAA approval in July 2020, with EASA certification following in 2021. According to Honeywell, the RDR-7000 “scans the entire volume of air, from zero feet from the ground to 60,000 feet,” with the ability to automatically analyze a storm cloud in 17 different scans.