Radars and human health

[Rocket_Bird]

I was learning about weather radar a while ago, and how the high frequency of operation in the antennas (the big dish) is enough to cook eggs, and give you three headed kids if you were exposed to the beam while the radar is scanning (probably a thousand times worst than that, more like cancer, and bad burns  ;D).  That is why the radar is never used on the ground, and especially during refueling processes (as a close proximity fuel truck can possibily blow up if its on).  I also understand that military pilots must set radar (although not weather, but much more complicated) to standby before doing an air refuel.

With that said, I notice that military pilots quite frequently fly close formations in the air.  With say, their air to air radar on, can this cause some negative health issues to the pilot of the aircraft in front who is in formation?  Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Nexus]

WXR is used on ground, but not at the gate (near personel) or as you said during refuel or near fuel spills.

Same thing goes for the XPDR in modern airliners, which is a radiation hazard in every mode except Standby. This is because the radar is still operating in windshear mode (=radiation)

but I'm as lost as you are in the actual question, will be interesting to read the answer to it  :)

[SilverFox441]

With the exception of extremely high powered radars (AWACS and the like) the pilot of a military aircraft is protected from electromagnetic radiation by the skin and structure of the plane. The same thing that causes a reflection on a radar screen bounces the energy away from the crew.

[Rocket_Bird]

sorry about the clarity of the question.  As military pilots would likely have their radars on while flying close formation, can this cause health issues to the pilots who are flying in front of the package whom are in the vicinity of the radar beam?

[Rocket_Bird]

Ah thanks, posted just as I was typing  Does that mean flying close to AWACs is bad for health?  Is there a certain dangerspot with regards to range from the radar as well, dispite the electromagnetic protection of the airframe??   Plus, I understand that, although the aircraft structure may contribute to protecting the pilot from this matter, but what about the canopy of a fighter?  Will that hinder the protectiveness somewhat?

[SilverFox441]

The canopy is a weak spot in the EM protection of the plane...but not as much as you might think. Many canopies are coated to increase their resistance to EM radiation...the F-16 being quite visible with it's gold coating.

Flying very close to an AWACS is indeed dangerous. The couple of times I was close in to one we had a verbal confirmation that the radar was not emitting before we closed within 5 miles.

[Rocket_Bird]

good thing it wasnt emitting.  At what range would they consider it to be safe from AWACS?

[SilverFox441]

Not sure about absolute minimums...but at 5 miles we held until they confirmed they had gone "Nose Cold", ie Radar was off, not just in Standby.

[Craig.]

The radar on the nimrod is also rather powerful, and because Woodford is right next to manchester airport, they cant use it till they are well lclear, or it would fry other aircrafts systems.

[Saratoga]

The original question of flying formation and what not.

During my AF tenure, in our formation flights we used radar on all them (well the ones we needed it anyways). Never had any problems, no three headed kids or anything... As was said, military pilots are protected. The waves reflecting off the plane show the image on our screen and also bounce the waves away from the pilot.