FlightMax to offer continuous NEXRAD, METAR, AIRMET, SIGMET,
TFR, and lightning updates
More Avidyne weather
info is coming to a cockpit near you! Avidyne has announced the
selection of XM WX Satellite Weather to provide broadcast datalink
weather for their FlightMax EX500 multifunction displays and
FlightMax Entegra integrated flight deck systems. This makes
Avidyne the first company to offer multiple, complimentary
satellite datalink capabilities. FlightMax systems already include
Avidyne's Narrowcast datalink system.
Avidyne's new MultiLink™ capability will provide an
interface to the Heads Up Technologies XMD-076 XM receiver. This
MultiLink capability will be available as a software update for all
Avidyne FlightMax EX500 and Entegra EX5000 multi-function displays.
It allows the operation of Avidyne's Narrowcast and XM's Broadcast
weather individually or together as complementary systems.
The addition of XM Satellite Weather will also provide access to
lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network while
operating over the continental United States (CONUS). This is a new
capability on FlightMax systems and provides the unique ability to
configure an aircraft with ground-based lightning detection,
airborne lightning detection, or a combination of ground and
airborne lightning detection ability. FlightMax already includes
the capability to display ground-based and airborne weather
radar.
"We're excited to announce the selection of XM Satellite
Weather," said Mark Sandeen, Avidyne's vice president of sales and
marketing. "Our FlightMax Entegra and EX500 customers will now have
the ability to receive the faster update rates of the XM broadcast
system, in addition to the lower-cost, two-way communication
capability of the narrowcast system."
"The XM WX service makes it easy for pilots to receive
continuous, detailed weather information right in the cockpit,"
said Roderick MacKenzie, XM Satellite Radio's Director of Advanced
Applications. "This service will allow pilots to make
better-informed decisions under all weather conditions."
"The XM WX service significantly improves the quality and
timeliness of weather information available in flight, and we're
proud to work with Avidyne to provide the weather receiver for
FlightMax products" said Rob Harshaw, President and CEO of Heads Up
Technologies.
XM WX Satellite Weather data is collected from the National
Weather Service (NWS), as well as other governmental agencies and
commercial providers and is then analyzed and processed by XM WX
partner, WxWorx. The weather information provided is the same
information broadcast to over 235 million television viewers every
day. XM WX is a service of XM Satellite Radio, the nation's leading
provider of satellite radio. XM's twin S-Band satellites provide
complete coverage of the continental United States and coastal
waters at all altitudes in any weather.
The XM WX Satellite Weather service gives pilots comprehensive,
graphical information about weather conditions across the United
States. The service delivers critical, real-time information for
pilots including NEXRAD Radar in high resolution, full-color
graphical format to review weather patterns overlaid on a map at a
glance, METARs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, TFRs, and lightning strikes from
the National Lightning Detection Network.
Antenna manufacturer, Comant Industries is developing a full
line of combination ComDat® antennas that work with XM/Avidyne
Systems. Avidyne's FlightMax EX500 and Entegra systems are fully
upgradeable for those customers who wish to add the XM Broadcast
system. Information on pricing, availability, and upgrade programs
will be forthcoming.
Cirrus Ready To Deploy Avidyne/XM Weather
“Cirrus and Avidyne have collaborated to redefine the way
pilots obtain and process information since 2000. This close
relationship has resulted in making glass cockpits standard
equipment on all Cirrus models. Weather in the cockpit adds
important functionality to these advanced systems. Cirrus and
Avidyne have been working to pursue a reliable high-speed source of
in-cockpit weather that meets the high standards of our products.
We are excited to be able to offer this emerging technology in
production aircraft in the very near future.”
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.20.24): Light Gun
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