Most of my time in Northeast lately has been  planning mostly around ice conditions, now, warm front inversions bring the clear ice to the lower altitudes, with the temps now in the plus 2 to 4 deg on the surface, we are able to use the TAT to land with a clean machine, using the ice profile for speeds. 
Yesterday the Radar was. showing returns as we flew from KSFM to KOWD after a lobster roll and chowder at Shane's. Tilt was at plus 10 and we were at 3000 ft for about 20 mins. This was a GWX 8000 Radar. Auto mode just showed us flying thru a blob of weather. As we went to manual mode, always my favorite, even in the Boeing ,we put the Bearing line over the heaviest part of the weather, and then did a Vertical Cut, it showed it was weather, no greater tool on board for the 10 inch antenna to discern ground from weather. We reselected horizontal scan and slid the gain bar to the bottom. That removed all the moderate and light rain from the screen. Fabulous!! A small amount of green remained and as we flew through it you could see the correlation of the rain hitting the windshield to confirm the measurement. Amazing piece of equipment for increasing confidence.
All Radars, RDR from Honeywell, GWX 68 from Garmin, and the fancy no magnetron 
​GWX 70's and up all operate the exact same way tactically, which is within the 40 nm scale, the 70'S and up can see further and require a different technique outside the 40 nm range to reduce ground returns.
Once you have your Radar calibrated, it is fantastic, 
As you practice the 5 step techniques, do it VFR tilting down to create weather returns just to get the flow smooth with your controls.
Best day and keep the blue side up!
Capt"n Bill

Hello 
Hope to see a bunch for a great day that will change the way you see your radar.
Probably the most misunderstood tool in the aircraft next to my wife!!
We will be dealing directly with 5  cockpit  flow steps using a radar card to get to 
the quick dissemination of reflectivity strength with confidence to make a safe 
course around the weather.
I would hope before you come to the seminar you would review the approximately 20 minutes 4 part training videos.
Also is the seminar format video which I will narrate and stop for questions.
Looking to go from 10 am till noon, break for barbecue lunch, then 1;30 to 3;30 with
questions, testimonies, and answering specific questions on your radar.
I was planning on staying Saturday and Sunday  if the weather provides a great opportunity to do the "in Aircraft Training".  Bring your GoPro cameras.
will be posting more each week prior and you can email me any questions at
[email protected].
Keep the blue side up and the ball centered!!!
Best night
Capt'n Bill

Austin to Boston Sunday averaging 320 kts Ground Speed. Great flight home.
Thank you all,  for your interest in Safely flying your aircraft with your onboard radar. It was an honor to speak. 
   The best part of using the Onboard Radar for navigating around the weather is the preflight planning. Using the lifted index from 1800wxbrief/wx graphics to find the air stability in the atmosphere around you at 18,000 ft. A plus 2 is the best for Training.
This works best when the temps are ISA +10 to 20 c.
   Checking the Graphical Turbulence Guidance for your cruise altitude and looking at all the pireps along your route. Figuring out a plan, and always having an out.
   Set your tiltat plus 10 deg and 20 nm range before departure and correlate the nexrad range to 20 nm also. make sure you have the Nav ring selected on to help make the measurements to the wx easy.
   Make sure you have a Calibrated Radar in pitch and roll which you can do by setting zero tilt and painting your altitude with the bottom of the beam. I train to teach seeing
the beam set at the return for 15,000 ft where the best reflective value is close to the freezing level. 
   Stay ahead with the tilt by setting the beam at 15,000 before the weather. If I have identified a cell at 30nm, I quickly set the beam for 20nm to be ready to do the 5 step flow as the weather moves in. Fly upwind if possible. 
when descending for approach phase through 8,000 ft set tilt plus 10 deg and 20 nm range and leave it thru landing, and just move the range in. 
   Take your time, SLOW DOWN, practice the flow VFR by setting the correct tilt for you altitude, then tilt down to make more gound returns to simulate your wx for the 5 step flow. 
Try to get thru the flow without hitting the wrong buttons or not following the checklist.
  The 50% gain cut or 15 dbz reduction removes the level 1 and 2 wx, or light to moderate rain from the screen. If I am just flying in an area of moderate rain or less, the Bearing Indicator straight ahead, the beam set for 20 nm at 15,000ft, and just the 50% or 15 dbz gain reduction will usually clear the screen and your good for 20 nm.
  Getting professional instruction is the best way to enjoy the fabulous tool and reduce the anxiety that comes with the wx and expand your limitations and personal limitations.
Keep the blue side up and the ball centered!
Best Day
God Bless and thank you again, grateful for your participation.
Capt'n Bill
P.S. Check the Training / Weather Flying Page for the Weather Checklist
​and Lifted Index Procedure.

Good morning from Beautiful Boston.
Looking ahead for the Northeast flyers, possible frontal boundary from Boston to DFW.
Was just checking the Prog on Aviationweather.gov. 
Be sure to put your route in and check the Turbulence site for C.A.T.
Pireps along the route for possible ice conditions, and test all equipment.
Good chance for some excellent Radar practice putting the beam at 15,000 ft on the cells.
Practice the 5 steps starting with the bearing line over the cell, ident the position, then do a vertical cut. Even if its ground return by being symmetrical , go back to horizontal and do the 50% gain cut for practice, always return to calibrated gain and envision the decision to turn upwind if able.
The GWX 70 and up guys and gals can practice the correct tilt and adding 4 deg to get rid of most of the ground return outside of 40 nm.
Due to Beam Width smear, Radars with Magnetrons are only good out to 30 miles.
This is all due to the 10 inch antenna.
Keep the blue side up and the ball centered!
Capt'n Bill

Hello,
​Use Google Chrome if Safari will not open the Radar training Video.

I have added the Radar Training card on the Radar Training Page.
​If you have time I have added some Quick Reference for the Training Class from The video Radar Training with Bill Panarello on the Videos page.
 If you drag up to the listed Times, Pertinent info for the class are emphasized from the video.
Enjoy
Capt'n Bill

Weather and Ground straight ahead Gain Cut, less than Level 2 if monitor goes black.
7:30 to 9:05

Weather I.D. steps and ground I.D. only.   12:15 to 14:40

Weather steps to stay ahead and ATC reporting neared WX.  16:10 to 20:05

ATC Reports and Setup in the hold for Trolling for WX.  25:30 to 26:50

Active Shadow steps to Ident, Hooking a good one!  27:30 to 32:32

Slowing down to Enjoy the ride! Masking a Turn in Heading mode. 33:45 to 35:50

Good Vertical cut, Caught a Keepah, and Decision made for turn. 37:15 to 39:05

Storm Identification, Decision making, turn before the WX. 41:30 to the END.

Great time , Great Student, 
 

Hello Fellow Aviators,
Putting together a Four part Radar Seminar for online study before the November 2, 2024 PMOPA Convention at the beautiful JW Marriott in Austin,TX.
The Videos are on the Training/Radar Training page.
I will have a class Saturday Afternoon going over how to make
​the Radar your best friend.
Excited to see you all there.
Keep the blue side up and the ball centered!
​Captain Bill