The nose, in particular, is one of our body’s most complex and elegant organs. It handles critical life tasks and deserves a lot of credit for keeping us alive and safe. The inside shape of the nose is intended to cause air to swirl, which moistens and balances the temperature. One of the main jobs of the nasal passages is to keep the air you breathe in and out at the right temperature. 

And now you’re probably wondering what this has to do with aviation.

In short, the nose of an airplane is critical to flight. It determines where the plane will go, much like the tip of an arrow. Keeping the nose pointed in the right direction is crucial for everything about flying. It also helps reduce drag around the aircraft.

Another important fact is that the weather radar is located in the nose cone of most commercial aircraft. 

The radome is the official name for the airplane nose (radar + dome = radome). The radome is a spherical plastic cover that opens to protect important equipment from the weather. This includes the radar antenna, which is a sensitive plate that sends and receives radio waves and is also called the dish antenna. The nose is made of smart material that filters outward weather influences while allowing electromagnetic radiation to pass through.

Radar will collect information on the meteorological conditions in the area. Pilots can make use of this information to plan their flights. The weather radar, for example, will show a storm. The pilot may then change the plane’s course to avoid the storm.

Nonetheless, weather radar will supply pilots with data like this. The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerts pilots if the aircraft is flying too close to the ground or if an object is approaching.

Round nose cones are preferred for aircraft designed to fly at speeds less than the speed of sound. This is why round nose cones are used on commercial airlines, private flights, and leisure aircraft. Surprisingly, not all military aircraft are designed to fly at high speeds. Having a more pointed nose cone changes the airflow over them in a big way, which lets them go so fast with so little drag. That is why round noses are common on transport, surveillance, and airborne radar aircraft.

Radome maintenance is very important, especially for buildings that look fine from the outside. Inadequate maintenance may cause a radome’s electromagnetic integrity to deteriorate.

The first step in regular radome maintenance is to check the structure’s surface for pits, cracks, chipped paint, or other signs of damage. Also, most protective paints will gradually fade from black to brown. Lightning diverter strips should be checked for solid electrical contact as well as any damage.

The people doing the repairs need to be aware of how their work might affect the radar systems of the plane. After fixing a radome, technicians should check its transmissivity to make sure the radar system is working properly.

 Follow our blog for more interesting stories.