The FAA has approved the use of VHF data link mode 2 (VDL -2) avionics throughout the USA for Flight Information Services (FIS) broadcast weather-information transmissions.
It is providing FIS data link service through government-industry partnerships with Honeywell Ð which introduced a system last month Ð and Arnav, which expects to introduce its system later this year.
Under the partnerships, the FAA is providing the required radio frequency spectrum and the vendors are providing the necessary air/ground infrastructure.
Equipping aircraft for the service requires a $5,500 radio receiver and a cockpit multi-function display that costs about $7,400. At no cost, pilots of equipped aircraft can receive text messages that include routine and special weather reports, terminal area forecasts and pilot reports issued by the FAA or the US National Weather Service.
The FAA also plans future graphical VDL-2 data products such as Nexrad maps and other FIS products available through a subscription service.
"This is the first concerted effort to provide nationwide inflight weather data," says Gregory Burke, director of the FAA's Office of Air Traffic Systems development.
Source: Flight Daily News
