Satellite-based weather data is set to become widely available in general aviation cockpits by early next year, as two new systems come on to the market.
Avionics manufacturer Garmin International has teamed with EchoFlight to provide weather data direct to aircraft over the Orbcomm satellite system, while Satellink Technologies has unveiled plans for a satellite direct broadcast information service.
Garmin's new GDL 49 satellite datalink transceiver will allow GA pilots to receive EchoFlight's weather service via Orbcomm low-Earth-orbit satellites on a request/reply basis.
The subscription service will enable Garmin's GNS 400/500-series moving-map navigation systems to display textual and graphical weather anywhere in continental USA, without the altitude restrictions affecting ground-based flight information datalinks. The $3,500 GDL 49 is expected to be available in the fourth quarter.
Satellink's Merlin real-time weather service will take advantage of the broadband capabilities of existing direct television broadcast satellites. Updates to a range of textual and graphical weather products will be broadcast every few seconds via satellite to a portable receiver/processor on the aircraft which will interface with an existing cockpit display.
Because the system is receive-only, the airborne hardware is expected to cost less than $1,500, with a basic subscription fee of $30 a month.
Source: Flight International
