Arnav Systems has signed an agreement to provide a weather datalink service to aircraft worldwide via ARINC's GlobaLink communications infrastructure. Arnav already provides its WxLink service to the general aviation market in the USA, using a growing network of low-altitude VHF datalink ground stations.
The Puyallup, Washington-based company says the agreement "-will establish the first aviation weather service to deliver a real-time continuous broadcast of weather products for airborne use worldwide". The tie-up with ARINC will also expand availability of WxLink's real-time text and graphical weather to all segments of aviation, the company says.
Arnav has deployed about one-third of its USVHF datalink network and plans to provide un- interrupted en route WxLink coverage next year. ARINC's GlobaLink VHF datalink network will expand availability to higher altitudes, throughout the Caribbean and Central America, Mexico, North America and into Europe and Asia.
WxLink products include cockpit displays of ground-based weather radar precipitation images, as well as meteorological, icing and turbulence reports.
AlliedSignal is adding graphical weather to the products available via its Airborne Flight Information Service (AFIS). The company will provide the capability to display weather graphics on its new Global Star 2100 flight management system, as well as on competing units.
The AFIS is available via VHF datalink and satellite communications, providing flight planning and messaging services.
Source: Flight International
