B737-300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 146; Flight Crew Type 9000
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Weather
After sitting due to a ground stop for severe weather; the ramp was opened and we pushed for departure. During the taxi out; the Weather Radar was selected on and we discussed our flight path. Prior to reaching the runway; I noticed the radar was blank. I thought maybe in error it had been turned off and asked the First Officer to turn it back on. He said he had not turned it off. The radar seemed to work normally and I mentioned to the First Officer we could not go without working radar. On the takeoff roll below 80 KTS; I saw the radar fail and rejected the takeoff. The RTO Checklist was completed and we returned to the gate to have Maintenance address the issue. Maintenance fixed the problem and checked the brake temperature to ensure compliance with cooling. Dispatch; the Chief Pilot on call; passengers; and flight attendants were talked to; briefed; and we departed without further issue.
A B737-300 Captain rejected the takeoff after he determined that the Weather Radar had failed and the flight was departing into potentially severe weather.