SatIR, Lightning, Winds And Temps Aloft All Delivered Via
MLX770 Sat Datalink
Avidyne announced Tuesday that they
have added significant new weather products to the data feed for
customers flying with the MLX770 two-way datalink transceiver. The
new weather products include Infrared Satellite Imagery (SatIR),
worldwide lightning and winds & temperatures aloft.
"Avidyne is focused on delivering avionics solutions that make
flying safer and these additional weather products make the MLX770
an even more compelling weather avoidance solution, especially for
international customers." said Avidyne Chief Operating Officer,
Patrick Herguth.
The MLX770 is a single-channel datalink transceiver that
provides WSI's industry-leading InFlight weather data products and
two-way text messaging services via the Iridium satellite network
for display on Avidyne's Entegra EX5000 and EX500 Multi-Function
Displays (MFD), as well as on Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) from
Advanced Data Research and other manufacturers.
Avidyne MFDs will require a field-loadable software update in
order to view the new weather products. The EX500 will
require Release 4.1 software, and the large-screen EX5000 requires
Release 8.1 software. Third-party EFB manufacturers will also
require additional software updates.
Standard WSI's InFlight weather products available with the
MLX770 include worldwide graphical METARs, textual METARs, and
TAFs; Radar is offered as a Premium service. In addition to
providing worldwide weather services, the MLX770 provides
convenient two-way text messaging between the airborne MFD or EFB
and compatible ground-based SMS-capable mobile phones or e-mail
addresses, allowing pilots to communicate with family and friends
from their aircraft while in flight.
The MLX770 Two-Way Datalink Transceiver promotional price is
$7,990, including antenna and two years (or 200 hours) of free
weather data service. Promotional pricing ends Dec 31,
2009.
The list price of the field-loadable Release 4.1/8.1 MFD
software upgrade, which will be available in December 2009, is $495
for customers who already have Release 3.0/7.0 (or later) MFDs, and
$1,095 for MFDs with older software versions. However, Avidyne
is offering the Release 4.1/8.1 software update free of charge for
all current MLX770 owners with an EX500 or EX5000MFD
(uninstalled).
Standard Worldwide Datalink Weather Service pricing starts as
low as $50 per month for 10 hours of flying with the Basic Service
plan. Premium Services plans cost approximately $115 per month for
10 hours of flying.