Definition
A protective housing that encloses a radar antenna, made of material that allows radar signals to pass through with minimal distortion or attenuation while shielding the antenna from airflow, weather, and physical damage.
Plain English
The streamlined cover over an aircraft's radar antenna. It hides and protects the antenna while still letting the radar see through it.
Context Anchor
Often seen on the nose of an aircraft covering a weather radar antenna, or on other parts of the aircraft covering communication or navigation antennas.
Derivation
A blend of radar and dome. Coined during WWII when radar antennas began being enclosed in dome-shaped covers. The name describes exactly what it is: a dome for radar.
Why Pilots Care
It shields the radar from rain, ice, and debris while keeping the antenna functional for weather detection and navigation.
Intuition Check
A radome is not the radar or antenna itself. It is the protective cover over the antenna, and it must be made so the signal can pass through it.
Example Sentence 1
The preflight inspection includes checking the radome for cracks, erosion, or signs of lightning strike damage.
Example Sentence 2
Ice accumulated on the radome during the climb, so the crew activated the radar anti-ice system.