L-3 Avionics Systems' SkyWatch HP Collision Avoidance System and Stormscope Model WX-500 will be included in a new STC for King Air C90s. The STC is being performed by Garmin International and assisted by Executive Beechcraft of Kansas City as part of a retrofit program that will encompass the Garmin G1000 cockpit. The STC is expected to be complete in the spring of 2007 and will include L-3's SkyWatch HP as standard equipment and the Stormscope WX-500 as optional equipment within the STC.

"SkyWatch and Stormscope continue to be the number one choice of top OEM and retrofit integrators such as Executive Beechcraft," said Larry Riddle, vice president of business development. "Like the King Air C90 series, SkyWatch and Stormscope have a rich history of providing reliable performance at a reasonable price."

Over 7,500 SkyWatch and 45,000 Stormscope systems have been installed in almost every type of aircraft since 1976. The King Air C90 will benefit from the two systems' instantaneous information and extended surveillance ranges.

SkyWatch HP is an active surveillance traffic advisory system that operates as an air-to-air or ground-to-air interrogation device. After receiving replies to its Mode C type interrogations, the SkyWatch system computes the responding aircraft's range, bearing, relative altitude and closure rate, predicting potential traffic conflicts within a 35 nmi range. Aural traffic alerts are annunciated through the aircraft's existing audio system and visual targets are displayed using TCAS symbology onto almost any cockpit display. 

Stormscope Weather Mapping Systems were the first airborne instruments developed specifically to detect and map thunderstorms by analyzing the radiated signals of electrical discharges from storm cells. During the cumulus stage of a thunderstorm, storm cells are usually precipitation-free, and weather radar is unable to show activity. Stormscope, by detecting the electrical activity already present as the storm builds, provides an accurate view of areas that should be avoided. Stormscope processes both azimuth and range to determine the location and intensity of dangerous thunderstorm cells - then presents the findings in real-time.

FMI: www.FlySkyWatch.com, www.L-3com.com/AS, www.executivebeechcraft.com, www.Stormscope.net