Avidyne and WSI Get Sirius About Weather
Avionics maker Avidyne and weather provider WSI have teamed to provide Sirius satellite-radio-delivered weather information to aircraft. Under the agreement, Avidyne’s Safety Systems Group in Columbus, Ohio, is developing and manufacturing WSIs new AV-300 data receiver and AV-350 data/audio receivers, and the MLB700 receiver specifically for Avidyne EX500 and EX5000 multifunction displays. Meanwhile, WSI is providing its InFlight weather service via the Sirius satellite network for the datalink receivers. According to Avidyne, the AV-300 and AV-350 systems will be compatible with a wide array of multifunction displays and available as upgrades to existing WSI AV-100 and AV-200 receivers. The MLB700, which is available in a $4,795 data-only version or a $5,495 data/audio combo, is schedule to start shipping in the third quarter. All of the Avidyne datalink receivers use advanced chipsets that improve receiver performance and reception and eliminate interference from ground-based signals. The AV-350 and data/audio version of the MLB700 come with a remote controller to select audio programming from the more than 130 channels of Sirius sports, news, talk, and commercial-free music programming that can be heard through an aircraft’s audio system.
Avionics maker Avidyne and weather provider WSI have teamed to provide Sirius satellite-radio-delivered weather information to aircraft. Under the agreement, Avidyne's Safety Systems Group in Columbus, Ohio, is developing and manufacturing WSIs new AV-300 data receiver and AV-350 data/audio receivers, and the MLB700 receiver specifically for Avidyne EX500 and EX5000 multifunction displays. Meanwhile, WSI is providing its InFlight weather service via the Sirius satellite network for the datalink receivers. According to Avidyne, the AV-300 and AV-350 systems will be compatible with a wide array of multifunction displays and available as upgrades to existing WSI AV-100 and AV-200 receivers. The MLB700, which is available in a $4,795 data-only version or a $5,495 data/audio combo, is schedule to start shipping in the third quarter. All of the Avidyne datalink receivers use advanced chipsets that improve receiver performance and reception and eliminate interference from ground-based signals. The AV-350 and data/audio version of the MLB700 come with a remote controller to select audio programming from the more than 130 channels of Sirius sports, news, talk, and commercial-free music programming that can be heard through an aircraft's audio system.
WSI's InFlight graphical weather product includes NOWrad radar mosaic and radar summary showing current cell height; movement and forecast movement; icing levels; and datalink lighting strike plots. The system also shows winds and temperatures aloft, TAFs, graphical and textual METAR, AIRMETs and SIGMETs and PIREPs. Avidyne said two weather data product packages will be offered -- the $39.99/month Avidyne Performance package and $29.99/month Avidyne Essentials package. "This is a great and productive partnership between two leaders in general aviation," said Avidyne President Dan Schwinn. "Our combined resources will help give pilots in all segments of GA a powerful new set of tools for improved situational awareness, safety and comfort."
