Avidyne Makes Lightning Detection Available for Helicopters

Avidyne Corporation's new tactical weather detection system that dynamically depicts lightening with color contours in real time is now available for helicopters, as well as fixed-wing aircraft.

Avidyne says its TWX670 makes it easier to interpret lightening information than is possible with previous-generation lightning systems, and is particularly suitable for helicopters that operate offshore or other places where datalinked graphical weather information isn't available.

It displays lightning strikes within 0-25 nautical miles of the aircraft, and because of its advanced signal processing, calibration, and built-in noise immunity, it minimizes radial spread, according to Avidyne.

The system's exclusive TWxCell Mode displays storm cells and their intensities as color-filled hexagons which highlight the most intense regions of thunderstorm activity in a visually contoured color display that shows electrical activity over time, making it easy to determine areas of potential wind shear, turbulence, hail and icing.  The system's close-range accuracy is further enhanced by a geo-stabilization which compensates for aircraft maneuvering.

The TWX670 can be interfaced with Avidyne's 3-ATI (air transport industry) size MHD300 multi-hazard display the can be installed in typically crowded helicopter instrument panels.  The MHD300 displays the TWX670's full-color TWxCell Mode and color Strike Mode, and will also show "Cell+Strike Mode," which combines the benefits of both display formats on a single display.  The MHD300 also provides display capability for traffic advisory systems, such as Avidyne's TAS600 series, and Honeywell's EGPWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system).

The TWX670 will also interface with Avidyne's EX5000 MFD (multifunctional display) in fixed-wing Entegra-equipped aircraft. When updated with Release 7 software, the EX5000 MFD provides the necessary interface with the TWX670 and currently supports "Strike Mode." TWxCell Mode and Color Strike Mode will be supported in a future MFD software release.  03-02-2008.

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