Cirrus Design Corporation has announced their highly anticipated satellite datalink weather option has come to fruition. Dr. Robert Segal (pictured below) of Las Cruces, NM became the first customer to take delivery of fully-integrated satellite datalink weather in his new Cirrus SR22-G2 with the award winning Avidyne FlightMax Entregra™ glass cockpit.

The recently certified XM weather datalink completes the triad of new avionics options Cirrus announced this summer at AirVenture 2004. Now Cirrus owners within the contiguous United States can choose the $7,490 factory installed option and subscribe to the service receive real-time information. NEXRAD, METAR, SIGMET, AIRMET, TFR and lightning updates, for example, are fed onto the 10.4" full-color Avidyne multifunction display.

According to Dr. Segal, his decision to include the datalink weather option was easy, "The technology is amazing. For me, the quantity and quality of current, useful information available during pre-flight or while in-flight has added a new dimension to flight safety".

Alan Klapmeier, CEO of Cirrus stated, "Real-time in-cockpit weather provides reliable weather information to aid the pilot in the decision making process - particularly on longer flights. We have always believed that pilots should have access to as much information as possible to improve situational awareness. Real-time weather datalink is a key element that can greatly increase the safety and utility of General Aviation."

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com