WASHINGTON, D.C. : Airport Radar Called a Frequent Failure

The sophisticated radar system designed to warn pilots of dangerous wind conditions at Washington’s National Airport has been down almost once a week on average since it started operating in January, the Washington Post reported. The same system also had frequently been out of commission at other major U.S. airports where it was installed as a much-touted safety device, the newspaper said. Doppler radar can see into storms and detect deadly downdrafts and sharp wind direction changes that can endanger aircraft. At National Airport, the system was out of commission last month when wind shear caused a jet with 111 passengers to hit a runway light, damaging a wingtip on takeoff.