Plans To Add More Weather Products Down The Line
Avionics manufacturer Avidyne announced Monday its new MLX770
two-way datalink transceiver has received FAA Technical Standard
Order (TSO) approval, opening up a new worldwide market for
datalink weather display systems and services-- a market presently
unserved by anyone in general aviation.
The MLX770 was approved to TSO C159 for "Avionics Supporting
Next Generation Satellite Systems (NGSS)." Utilizing Avidyne's
Network Operations Center (NOC) and capitalizing on the reach and
reliability of the 66-satellite global Iridium Satellite Network,
the MLX770 delivers strategic datalink weather services to Entegra-
and EX500-equipped aircraft operating throughout the world,
including Europe, Australia, and Latin America.
The MLX770 is initially targeted to the large installed base of
Avidyne-equipped aircraft already flying worldwide, including the
more than 600 Entegra-equipped Cirrus SR20s and SR22s based in
Europe.
"Getting TSO approval for the MLX770 paves the way for Avidyne
to begin fulfilling the large backlog of orders for this hot new
market-defining product," said Avidyne president Dan Schwinn. "With
our already-proven NOC, certification by Iridium, and our
partnership with WSI for weather content, we have all the wheels in
motion to meet the demand for this highly-anticipated safety
enhancement system around the world."
"We congratulate Avidyne for getting their TSO and bringing this
safety-enhancing capability to market on schedule," said Mark D.
Miller, Vice President and General Manager of WSI’s Aviation
Business. "Through our partnership with Avidyne, international
aircraft operators can now enjoy the safety and operational
benefits of WSI aviation weather that was previously available only
in North America," continued Miller.
The MLX770 Datalink Transceiver provides WSI's InFlight weather
data products for display on the Avidyne Entegra and EX500
Multi-Function Displays (MFD). Standard weather products include
worldwide graphical METARs, textual METARs, and TAFs; Radar is
offered as a Premium service.
Additionally, the MLX770 provides two-way text messaging between
airborne MFDs and compatible ground-based SMS-capable mobile phones
or e-mail addresses, allowing pilots to communicate with family and
friends from their aircraft while in flight.
Avidyne and WSI plan to add other weather products in the near
future including Winds & Temps Aloft, in-flight weather
advisories (NOTAMs), SATRad radar, and Lightning.