Features Capabilities For Assessing Lightning And Hail Threats

Rockwell Collins today unveiled its new MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar, which provides new atmospheric threat assessment capabilities for air transport aircraft. The company will be showcasing the new system at next week’s Singapore Airshow.

MultiScan ThreatTrack builds on Rockwell Collins’ MultiScan weather radar to deliver additional features and to further increase safety and efficiency. For example, the system’s advanced capabilities go beyond hail and lightning prediction within a thunderstorm cell and alerts pilots to these significant threats adjacent to the cell. If these thunderstorms are growing ahead and below the aircraft, ThreatTrack’s Predictive Overflight protection warns the flight crew if the cells will be in the aircraft’s flight path.

In addition, MultiScan ThreatTrack is the first in the industry to feature two levels of turbulence detection—severe and ride-quality—which more accurately informs flight crews of the type of turbulence in their path.

American Airlines is debuting the new radar, which was developed with extensive meteorological research and rigorous flight testing around the world, on its new Next-Generation Boeing 737 fleet.

“Working with American and Boeing, we certified a more comprehensive radar system that improves flight operations efficiency by helping pilots better navigate disruptive weather threats,” said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Air Transport Systems for Rockwell Collins. “With MultiScan ThreatTrack, passenger satisfaction will increase with smoother flights and more on-time arrivals.”

“American Airlines is pleased to collaborate with Rockwell Collins on the successful certification and entry into service of MultiScan ThreatTrack,” said Capt. Brian Will, director of Airspace Modernization and Advanced Technologies at American Airlines. “The system’s capabilities, including its advanced environmental threat detection logic, will help American continue to provide the safest and most efficient operation possible.”

In a research project sponsored by the NASA Weather Accident Prevention Project, data examined over the past two decades indicates that turbulence resulting in minor or major injury has cost airlines anywhere from $28,000 to $167,000 per incident. With an average of 750 turbulence encounters per year, the resulting cost to the industry can be $30 to $60 million per year. Lightning and hail damage to aircraft can increase the related costs exponentially.

(Image provided by Rockwell Collins)

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com