Continues To Expand Coverage For Weather, Texting Capabilities

Avidyne Corporation announced Tuesday graphical weather and two-way text messaging is now available for Latin America on its two-way datalink transceiver, the MLX770.  The announcement came during LABACE, the annual gathering of Latin America's business aviation community, currently being held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

Avidyne introduced the MLX770 earlier this year at EBACE by launching graphical weather and text capabilities for Europe. Last month at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI, the company announced it will continue to expand the coverage throughout the globe, adding specific regions throughout the remainder of 2008.

Utilizing Avidyne's Network Operations Center (NOC) and the 66-satellite Iridium constellation to deliver strategic datalink weather services to Entegra- and EX500-equipped aircraft, the MLX770 makes broadcast weather data and two-way communications available to international customers who have not previously had access to it.

"Latin America has a significant number of general aviation and business aircraft in operation, so we're pleased to be able to offer operators in the region the added capabilities and enhanced safety that the MLX770 offers. It's designed to expand the quality and amount of information pilots can use in making go/no-go decisions on the ground, and to fly more strategically while en route," said Bill Schillhammer, Avidyne's Director of International Sales.

The lightweight (3.6 lb.) MLX770 provides weather data with satellite signal coverage at all altitudes, even on the ground. Its datalink service includes graphical and textual METARS, TAFs, Winds and Temperatures Aloft, and in-flight weather advisories (NOTAMs). Radar and lightning are also available as premium offerings. Additionally, the MLX770 provides convenient two-way SMS text messaging from an airborne MFD to any ground-based SMS-capable mobile phone or e-mail address... allowing pilots to communicate with family and friends from their aircraft in flight through the Iridium network.

FMI: www.avidyne.com