Aftermarket Installation Approved Through Airbus Service Bulletin

Rockwell Collins’ MultiScan ThreatTrack weather radar is now available as an aftermarket upgrade for Airbus A320 and A330 families of aircraft. The system was recently certified for retrofit installation for these platforms through an Airbus service bulletin.

“Through a relatively simple hardware and software upgrade from Airbus and Rockwell Collins, airlines with A320 and A330 aircraft that have the previous generation of our MultiScan weather radar can take advantage of ThreatTrack’s new safety-enhancing benefits and experience a reduction in fuel consumption from more precise navigation around weather,” said Thierry Tosi, vice president and general manager, Service Solutions for Rockwell Collins.

MultiScan ThreatTrack uses Track While Scan technology to automatically track each cell, perform in-depth analysis through dedicated vertical scans, and alert pilots to significant convective threats of lightning, hail, and turbulence—both those within the cell and expanded threat areas adjacent to or above a storm. In addition, ThreatTrack is the first in the industry to feature two levels of turbulence detection—severe and ride quality—which more accurately inform flight crews of the type of turbulence in their path.

Unique to MultiScan ThreatTrack is its patented Predictive OverFlight™ Protection, which tracks thunderstorm cells ahead of and below the aircraft, measures growth rate, predicts bow-wave turbulence and indicates potential threats in the aircraft’s flight path.

“MultiScan ThreatTrack provides flight crews with a more defined picture of potentially disruptive weather threats, ultimately increasing passenger satisfaction as a result of smoother flights and more on-time arrivals,” said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Air Transport Systems for Rockwell Collins.
There are more than 3,000 A320 and A330 aircraft with MultiScan that can be modified worldwide. Rockwell Collins also offers a MultiScan ThreatTrack upgrade solution for A320s and A330s equipped with its WXR-700 Forward Looking Windshear unit and non-Rockwell Collins radar systems. MultiScan ThreatTrack is available as an option on new A320s and A330s. To date, three quarters of A320 and A330 aircraft produced by Airbus are equipped with a Rockwell Collins radar system.

(Image provided with Rockwell Collins news release)

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com