Rockwell Collins (Stand A1011) has launched its new next-generation MultiScan Global weather radar, the first to calculate the actual threat posed by weather conditions by the geographical location of the aircraft.
The software upgrade for the WXR-2100 series adjusts radar returns to more accurately display weather threats in line with known local weather patterns.
Bruce Laird, Rockwell Collins sales director for the Asia-Pacific region, says: "Weather is different wherever you are in the world. For example, clouds over open sea have low reflectivity so you normally have to increase the radar's gain, while weather over Himalayan hills is going to be vastly different to that over deserts.
"MultiScan Global automatically adjusts the radar's gain, tilt and threshold algorithms to give a more accurate display.
"It took us a long time to work out how to do it, but the end result is better weather radar with little or no pilot intervention."
Rockwell Collins is nervous about giving too much information away as patents are pending. But a global database of weather patterns is obviously involved. It is also clear that the software upgrade will help it secure sales.
Enhanced
"Over the last two years, MultiScan has been a product differentiator for us and the new capabilities are going to help even more," says Laird.
Boeing recently chose MultiScan for its 7E7, probably with one eye on Global's upcoming enhanced features. The free software upgrade has already been installed on the Qantas fleet after evaluation flights were conducted across the Pacific aboard a Boeing 747-400ER.
Kelly Ortberg, vice-president and general manager Air Transport Systems for Rockwell Collins, says: "This enhancement to our MultiScan weather radar offers pilots a true hazard avoidance system, enabling them to detect a variety of weather phenomena that occur around the globe and allowing flightcrews to better plan long-range, real-time tracks around significant weather."
STEVE NICHOLS
Source: Flight Daily News
