BendixKing KMD 540 User Manual
N
Revision 6 Feb/2009
006-18237-0000
Multi-Function Display
KMD 550/850
Flight Information Services
(FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
B
For Software Version 02/02 and later
WARNING
The enclosed technical data is eligible for export under License Designation
NLR and is to be used solely by the individual/organization to whom it is
addressed. Diversion contrary to U.S. law is prohibited.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright © 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009 Honeywell International Inc.
All rights reserved.
Reproduction of this publication or any portion thereof by any means without
the express written permission of Honeywell International Inc. is prohibited. For
further information contact the Manager, Technical Publications; Honeywell,
One Technology Center, 23500 West 105th Street, Olathe, Kansas 66061.
Telephone: (913) 782-0400.
The information contained in this manual is for reference use only. If
any information contained herein conflicts with similar information
contained in the Airplane Flight Manual Supplement, the information in
the Airplane Flight Manual Supplement shall take precedence.
R-1
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 6, February 2009
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
Added XM products:
Precipitation Type (at Surface)
Freezing Levels
Winds Aloft
Translated Metars
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s)
R-2
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 5, March 2007
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
Added XM Receiver functionality.
R-3
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 4, November 2004
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
Add FIS Area Products (AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETs
and Alert Weather Watches).
MODE Softkey now displays product selection menu on FIS product
displays
Control Knob now allows cycling through graphical FIS products
Airport icons and identifiers are now displayed on FIS graphical product map displays per setting on Map Setup Page (2)
Added VOR icons and identifiers to FIS graphical product map displays (except graphical METARs) per setting on Map Setup Page (2)
Extended Track Line on Graphical Weather page
R-4
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 3, June 2004
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
METARs and SPECIs now expire after 120 minutes
Graphical METAR LIFR now displayed as magenta color
Miscellaneous corrections
R-5
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 2, November 2002
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
Added FIS subscription management
Changed FIS Text Page format
Changed FIS METARs time-out
Airports now shown on NEXRAD Page
Changed FIS Network Page
Miscellaneous corrections
R-6
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 1, May 2002
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
Complete manual revision
Revision History
Manual KMD 550/850 Flight Information Services (FIS)
Pilot’s Guide Addendum
Revision 0, November 2001
Part Number 006-18237-0000
Summary
This is the original release of this publication.
R-7
Revision 6 Feb/2009
KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
CONCEPT OF OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
DATALINK WEATHER FUNCTION STATUS ICONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
BASIC SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
METAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
SPECI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
TAF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
PIREP (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
AIRMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
CONVECTIVE SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
VALUE ADDED SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
NEXRAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
NEXRAD Abnormalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
NEXRAD Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Intensity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
PRECIPITATION TYPE AT SURFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
FREEZING LEVELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
WINDS ALOFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
GRAPHICAL METAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
GRAPHICAL AIRMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
GRAPHICAL SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . .24
STARTUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
VDL SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Setting Up a VDL Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Checking FIS VDL Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
XM WX SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Setting Up An XM WX Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Checking XM WX Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
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NORMAL OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
NEXRAD PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
NEXRAD Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Selecting And Using The NEXRAD Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
PRECIPITATION TYPE AT SURFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
PRECIPITATION TYPE Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . .41
FREEZING LEVELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
FREEZING LEVELS Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
WINDS ALOFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
WINDS ALOFT Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
GRAPHICAL METARS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Graphical METARs Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Selecting And Using The Graphical METARs Page . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
GRAPHICAL AIRMETS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Graphical AIRMETs Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Selecting And Using The Graphical AIRMETs Page . . . . . . . . . . . .51
GRAPHICAL SIGMETS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Graphical SIGMETs Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Selecting And Using The Graphical SIGMETs Page . . . . . . . . . . . .55
GRAPHICAL CONVECTIVE SIGMETS PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Graphical Convective SIGMETs Page Operational Controls . . . . . .59
Selecting And Using The Graphical Convective SIGMETs Page . .59
GRAPHICAL ALERT WEATHER WATCHES PAGE (AWW)
(VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Graphical Alert Weather Watches Page Operational Controls . . . .63
Selecting And Using The Graphical Alert Weather Watches Page .63
FIS TEXT PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
FIS Text Page Operational Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Using The FIS TEXT Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Changing Modes & Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Selecting Identifiers Using The DATA/SCAN Knob . . . . . . . . .70
Scanning Flightplan Waypoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Finding User Defined Areas By Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Finding User Defined Areas by Name or City . . . . . . . . . .72
FIS NETWORK STATUS PAGE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
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iii
MESSAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
FIS ALERT, NO VALID FIS SUBSCRIPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
NO DATA RECEIVED FROM FIS RECEIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
(PRODUCT) NOT AVAILABLE, DATA NOT RECEIVED . . . . . . . . . . . .79
NO (PRODUCT) AVAILABLE IN SELECTED AREA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
FIS ALERT, FIS DATA NOT RECEIVED FOR 15 MINUTES . . . . . . . . .80
NO (PRODUCT) AVAILABLE, DATA NOT RECEIVED . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
INVALID ENTRY, PLEASE CHECK CODE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . .81
ERROR PROCESSING SUBSCRIPTION CODE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . .81
FIS DECRYPTION FAILURE. UNABLE TO ACCEPT A NEW . . . . . . . . .
SUBSCRIPTION CODE (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
NETWORK STATUS NOT AVAILABLE, DATA NOT RECEIVED
(VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
FIS ALERT, ONE OR MORE FIS SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE CLOSE TO
EXPIRING. PLEASE REVIEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS (VDL ONLY) .82
FIS ALERT, ONE OR MORE FIS SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE EXPIRED.
PLEASE REVIEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . .82
FIS ALERT, DATA CARD UPDATE REQUIRED FOR CONTINUED
RECEPTION OF FIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
FIS ALERT, NEW DATA CARD NOT YET VALID. UNABLE TO
RECEIVE FIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
FIS ALERT, DATA CARD HAS EXPIRED. UNABLE TO RECEIVE
FIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
FIS ALERT, FIS SUBSCRIPTION ERROR. SWITCH OFF AND
REPLACE DATA CARD (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
FIS ALERT, FIS DECRYPTION ERROR. UNABLE TO RECEIVE
FIS DATA (VDL ONLY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
APPENDIX A, UNDERSTANDING TEXTUAL AVIATION WEATHER
REPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1
APPENDIX B, COMMON WEATHER ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1
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1
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPT OF OPERATION
The Flight Information Services (FIS) system supplies real-time weather
information and other flight advisory information to pilots to enhance situation awareness.
FIS or XM weather is not intended to replace voice radio services. Voice
communication of weather and meteorological information, in accordance with FAA operating rules, is still required.
Real-time weather is available 24 hours / day, 7 days / week. Two different systems are available for delivery of the weather data: a groundbased VHF Data Link (VDL) network and Baron WxWorx weather delivered via the XM Radio satellite system. Data acquired from FAA
approved weather sources is processed and then distributed to VDL
Ground Stations and to the XM satellite network. The Ground Stations
broadcast the information over a VHF Data Link (VDL) to aircraft within
line-of-sight utilizing VDL mode 2 transmitters at a bit rate up to 31.5
kbps. The XM satellite network uses two geosynchronous satellites to
broadcast network weather to aircraft at S-band (2.3 GHz) frequencies.
This diagram illustrates how FIS VDL data is received in the aircraft.
Introduction
2
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KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum
See our website at www.bendixking.com for VDL network status and
coverage. Continuous coverage of most of the continental US is possible
at altitudes as low as 5,000 ft. AGL, except for regions of precipitous terrain. As with all VHF communications, the line-of-sight range increases
with altitude. However, there is no appreciable increase in coverage
above 17,500 ft MSL. The following illustration shows how altitude influences FIS VDL coverage.
The following diagram illustrates how XM Wx data is received in the aircraft.
The XM Satellite Radio weather system provides continuous coverage
down to ground level over the entire continental United States. A good
view of the southern horizon must be available in order to receive at least
one of the two satellites.
To receive FIS or XM WX products, an aircraft must be equipped with a
compatible VDL receiver (KDR 510) or XM receiver (KDR 610), dedicated VHF antenna or satellite antenna, and appropriate display (KMD
550/850). FIS VDL uses a one-way (ground-to-air) broadcast protocol.
Introduction
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KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum
3
XM WX uses one-way (satellite network to air) broadcast protocol. Data
is continually broadcast without the need to request information, nor
acknowledge receipt.
Both basic (no-cost) and value added fee-based products are transmitted
by VDL. Basic VDL products are displayed using standard ICAO/WMO
textual format.
The VDL ground station network and the XM satellite network repetitively
broadcast the same product until either newer data is available or the
information has exceeded a pre-determined expiration time. Basic products are broadcast at least once every 5 minutes by the VDL system.
Products are broadcast once every 5 - 12 minutes (depending on the
product) by the XM system.
NOTE: Due to inherent delays, areas of coverage and relative age and
availability of the data that can be experienced, weather data cannot
be viewed as an absolute depiction of conditions at a specific location.
Introduction
No-cost VDL Subscription Fee-based XM Subscription
Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs) Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs)
Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports
(SPECIs)
Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports
(SPECIs)
Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs)
Pilot Reports (PIREPs)
AIRMETs AIRMETs
SIGMETs SIGMETs
Convective SIGMETs Convective SIGMETs
Alert Weather Watches (AWW)
Fee-based VDL Subscription
NEXRAD Base Reflectivity NEXRAD Composite Reflectivity
Graphical METARs Graphical METARs
Graphical AIRMETs Graphical AIRMETs
Graphical SIGMETs Graphical SIGMETs
Graphical Convective SIGMETs Graphical Convective SIGMETs
Graphical Alert Weather Watches
Precipitation Type, Freezing Levels, Winds
Aloft, Severe Weather Storm Track SCITs,
Temporary Flight Restrictions TFR's
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KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum
EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW
The Datalink Weather Function of the Bendix/King KMD 550/850 Multi
Function Display allows for the display and control of textual and graphical weather information received from the Honeywell KDR 510 VDL
Receiver or the KDR 610 XM satellite receiver. The choice of VDL or XM
receiver is made during installation. A single display can display only
VDL weather or only XM weather, not both.
This Pilot’s Guide Addendum describes the operation of the KMD
550/850 display and discusses the proper use of the displayed data for
strategic weather planning. The detailed description of the general operation of the KMD 550/850 is contained in the KMD 550/850 Pilot’s Guide.
The Bendix/King KMD 550/850 is shown below with the Text METAR
Page selected.
CAUTION
Datalink weather information is to be used as a strategic planning
tool for pilot decisions on avoiding inclement weather areas that
are beyond visual range or where poor visibility precludes visual
acquisition of inclement weather. Datalink weather information may
be used as follows:
a. To aid the pilot in situational awareness of hazardous meteo-
rological conditions.
b. As a cue to the pilot to communicate with the ATC controller,
AFSS specialist, Operator Dispatch, or Airline Operations Control
Center (AOCC) to get further information about the current meteorological conditions. In no case should the pilot take any evasive
action based solely upon the datalink weather display.
The datalink weather information is intended for assistance in
strategic flight planning purposes only and lacks sufficient resolution and updating necessary for tactical maneuvering.
Introduction
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KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum
5
DATALINK WEATHER FUNCTION STATUS ICONS
The Datalink Weather Function Status Icons are located in the lower left
of the display. They are used to indicate whether or not the KMD
550/850 is currently receiving and/or displaying weather information. The
following table shows the various icons and their meanings.
Basic Service Weather Products
VDL Icon XM Icon Colors Description
Black on a cyan
background.
No weather data is currently being
received but previously received data is
being displayed on the present page.
Black on a cyan
background.
Weather data is currently being received
from a signal and displayed on the present
page. XM signal is weak.
Black on a cyan
background.
Weather data is currently being received
from a signal and displayed on the present
page. XM signal is marginal.
Black on a cyan
background.
Weather data is currently being received
from a signal and displayed on the present
page. XM signal is good.
Black on gray. Weather data not being received nor dis-
played on the present page.
Black on gray. Weather data is currently being received
from a signal but not displayed on the present page.
Black on gray with
red slash.
Fault with connection or data link radio.
Black on gray. Graphical METAR overlay is available but
not displayed.
Black, green and
yellow on cyan.
Graphical METAR overlay is enabled and
displayed.
Black on gray. Weather data not being received.
Graphical METAR overlay is available but
not displayed.
Black, green and
yellow on cyan.
Weather data not being received.
Graphical METAR overlay is enabled and
displayed.
Black on gray with
red slash.
Radio Fault. Graphical METAR overlay is
available but not displayed.
Black on gray with
red slash; Black,
green and yellow on
cyan.
Radio Fault. Graphical METAR overlay is
enabled and displayed.
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BASIC SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS
The following is a discussion of weather products offered with the basic
no-fee VDL service. Accessing and navigating these services will be discussed in detail later in this addendum.
All basic and value-added products (except those identified as VDL Only)
can also be obtained through a single fee-based XM subscription service.
METAR
A METAR (Aviation Routine Weather Report) describes the specific
weather conditions at a particular airport at a given time. The KMD 550
provides a translated version of the METAR data. This is a readable version of the METAR data derived from the actual METAR. The raw
METAR data is played at the end of the translated version. The elements of a METAR are in order as follows:
1. Type of report
Basic Service Weather Products
Icon Description
Severe Weather Storm track information being received and displayed.
Severe Weather Storm track information being received but not displayed.
Severe Weather Storm track information not being received / data invalid.
VDL Icon XM Icon Colors Description
TFR data is not being received.
Black on gray. TFR data is being received but is not cur-
rently being displayed.
Black on cyan.
TFR data is being received and displayed.
N/A No TFR Icon
present.
N/A
N/A
Icon Description
0 min – 15 min Datalink lightning information received and displayed.
0 min – 15 min Datalink lightning information received but not dis-
played.
15 min – 30 min Datalink lightning information received and displayed
but data is more than 15 minutes old.
15 min – 30 min Datalink lightning information received but not dis-
played and data is more than 15 minutes old.
> 30 min Datalink lightning is not being received.
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7
2. ICAO station identifier
3. Date and time of issue
4. Modifier (AUTO if automated report or COR if corrected observation)
5. Wind
6. Visibility
7. Runway visual range (as required)
8. Weather phenomena
9. Sky condition
10. Temperature/dew point group
11. Altimeter
12. Remarks (as required)
METARs available within the selected range of the selected area will be
displayed up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed in
an encoded textual format. METARs displayed graphically on the map
are offered through a subscription service.
NOTE: When a specific element of METAR data is not available, it is
omitted from the report. The user must know the sequence of data to
recognize omissions. METAR observations older than 120 minutes will
be discarded.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual METARs.
SPECI
A SPECI (Aviation Selected Special Weather Report) is related to the
METAR. SPECIs are issued when certain specific conditions or events
have been observed at a particular location, usually an airport. A SPECI
will contain the same elements as a METAR and will generally be issued
for the following reasons:
1. Sudden, extreme changes in wind speed and/or direction.
2. Changes in surface visibility, especially those that change the flying
category at the reporting site.
3. Changes in runway visibility above or below 2,400 feet.
4. Appearance or termination of significant weather or natural atmospheric events such as tornados, waterspouts, funnel clouds, thunderstorms, squalls and volcanic eruptions.
5. Changes in precipitation intensity or form.
6. Changes to ceilings when previously reported ceilings were at or
below 3,000 feet, or the formation of a ceiling below 3,000 feet.
Also, new formation of cloud layers or other obscuring phenomenon
that occur below 1,000 feet.
7. Aircraft mishaps.
8. Other meteorological conditions that the agency or the observer
determine as critical.
Basic Service Weather Products
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KMD 550/850 FIS Addendum
Refer to the section on METARs for an explanation of the elements. The
element sequence and content will be the same as those in a METAR
report with the exception of the first element denoting report type.
“SPECI” will be seen in place of “METAR”. The KMD 550 provides a
translated version of the SPECI data. This is a readable version of the
SPECI data derived from the actual SPECI. The raw SPECI data is
played at the end of the translated version.
NOTE: When a specific element of SPECI data is not available, it is
omitted from the report. The user must know the sequence of data to
recognize omissions. SPECI observations older than 120 minutes will be
discarded.
Basic service SPECIs are offered in the encoded textual format.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual METAR/SPECIs.
TAF
A TAF (Terminal Area Forecast) is a statement of expected meteorological conditions at an airport during a specified period of time. Many
aspects of the TAF are the same as a METAR. Abbreviations are the
same as in a METAR with addition of a few more discussed later. Many
of the data elements are formatted as those in a METAR report. A TAF
will contain elements in the following order:
1. Type of report
2. ICAO station identifier
3. Date and time of issue
4. Date and time valid
5. Wind
6. Visibility
7. Weather phenomena
8. Sky conditions
9. Wind shear (as required)
10. Forecast weather change indicator
TAFs available within the selected range of the selected area will be displayed up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed in an
encoded textual format.
NOTE: TAFs older than the forecast validity period are discarded.
Amended or corrected TAFs generated within the issuance period are
provided as soon as they are available, and the previous outdated TAF
is no longer transmitted.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual TAFs.
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PIREP (VDL ONLY)
A PIREP (Pilot Weather Report) is an observation of conditions at a specific location or along a specific route. These conditions are reported by
pilots when communications are established with ground facilities such
EFAS, AFSS/FSS, ARTCC or ATC. Abbreviations are the same as in a
METAR. Pilots are encouraged to promptly volunteer these reports. A
PIREP will contain elements in the following order:
1. Type of message (urgent or routine)
2. Location in relation to an airport or VHF NAVAID
3. Time observed
4. Flight Level (may not always be present)
5. Type of aircraft (may not always be present)
6. Sky cover (may not always be present)
7. Weather conditions (may not always be present)
8. Temperature (may not always be present)
9. Wind direction and speed (may not always be present)
10. Turbulence (may not always be present)
11. Icing (may not always be present)
12. Remarks (may not always be present)
PIREPs available within the selected range of the selected area will be
displayed up to a maximum of 25 reports. These reports are displayed in
an encoded textual format.
NOTE: PIREPs older than 120 minutes are discarded.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual PIREPs.
AIRMET
An AIRMET (Airman’s Meteorological Information) is an advisory of significant weather that could be hazardous to single engine, light aircraft
and VFR pilots. However, parameters are such that the phenomena
does not require issuance of a SIGMET. AIRMETs address details
regarding IFR, extensive mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong surface winds, icing and freezing levels. AIRMETs are considered widespread because they must either be affecting or forecast to affect an
area at least 3,000 square miles. However, during the forecast period,
the actual affected area may be much smaller. AIRMETs are issued
every six hours and the maximum forecast period is 6 hours. An
AIRMET will contain elements in the following order:
1. Forecast Area
2. Report Type
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3. Date and time issued
4. Report designation and reason for issuance
5. Validity period
6. Area of coverage
7. Weather phenomenon details.
These reports are displayed in an encoded textual format.
NOTE: AIRMETs may be issued up to 15 minutes prior to the start of the
validity period. The system will display the data age as zero until the start
of the validity period. AIRMETs older than 360 minutes are discarded.
Amended, updated or corrected AIRMETs generated withing the
issuance period are provided as soon as they are available, and the previous outdated AIRMET is no longer transmitted.
When an AIRMET is cancelled, neither the original report nor the cancelation message can be displayed.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual AIRMETs.
SIGMET
A SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) is an advisory of nonconvective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft. SIGMETs
address details regarding severe icing not associated with thunderstorms, severe or extreme turbulence not associated with thunderstorms,
dust or sand storms lowering visibility to less than 3 miles, volcanic ash.
SIGMETs are considered widespread because they must either be
affecting or forecast to affect an area at least 3,000 square miles.
However, during the forecast period, the actual affected area may be
much smaller. SIGMETs are issued as needed and the maximum forecast period is 4 hours, except for 6 hours for conditions associated with
hurricanes. A SIGMET will contain elements in the following order:
1. Forecast Area
2. Report Type
3. Date and time issued
4. Report designation and reason for issuance
5. Validity period
6. Area of coverage
7. Location of weather phenomenon
8. Weather phenomenon details.
These reports are displayed in an encoded textual format.
NOTE: SIGMETs older than the forecast period are discarded.
Amended, updated or corrected SIGMETs generated withing the
issuance period are provided as soon as they are available, and the previous outdated SIGMET is no longer transmitted.
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Basic Service Weather Products
When an SIGMET is cancelled, neither the original report nor the cancelation message can be displayed.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual SIGMETs.
CONVECTIVE SIGMET
A Convective SIGMET (Convective Significant Meteorological Information)
is an advisory of convective weather that the forecaster believes hazardous to all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs address details regarding
severe thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms, a line of thunderstorms,
or thunderstorms producing heavy precipitation affecting an area 40 percent or more of an area at least 3,000 square miles. Convective SIGMETs
are issued hourly with a maximum forecast period of 2 hours. A
Convective SIGMET will contain elements in the following order:
1. Region Identifier and issue date and time
2. Report designator
3. Validity period
4. Area of coverage
5. Location details
6. Weather phenomena details
NOTE: Convective SIGMETs older than the forecast period are discarded. Amended, updated or corrected Convective SIGMETs generated
withing the issuance period are provided as soon as they are available,
and the previous outdated Convective SIGMET is no longer transmitted.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual Convective
SIGMETs.
ALERT WEATHER WATCHES (VDL ONLY)
Alert Weather Watches (AWW) are Alert Severe Weather Watch
Bulletins that describe areas of possible severe thunderstorm or tornado
development. These are watches, not warnings; and are issued as
needed. Severe weather may not actually develop. An Alert Weather
Watch will contain elements in the following order:
1. Report designation and date and time of issuance
2. Watch number, reason for issuance, area of coverage and validity
period.
3. Watch coordinates
4. Forecast
NOTE: Alert Weather Watches older than the forecast period are discarded.
See Appendix A for instructions on decoding textual Alert Weather
Watches.
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VALUE ADDED SERVICE WEATHER PRODUCTS
The following is a discussion of weather products offered with the value
added VDL subscription service. Accessing and navigating these services will be discussed in detail later in this addendum.
All basic and value-added products (except those identified as VDL
Only) can also be obtained through a single fee-based XM subscription
service.
NOTE: Airport and VOR icons, with their identifiers, will be displayed on
the graphical FIS maps at the range settings selected on Map Setup
Page (2). However, only airport identifiers will be displayed on the
Graphical METARs map display.
NEXRAD
Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) is formally designated WSR-88D,
which stands for Weather Service Radar (Doppler) and was commissioned in 1988.
FIS VDL provides NEXRAD base reflectivity and XM WX provides
NEXRAD composite reflectivity. Each NEXRAD ground radar site scan is
composed of separate beam scans at several elevation angles for 360°
around the site. Base reflectivity is the highest precipitation echo (reflectivity) contained in the lowest NEXRAD radar elevation angle scan (5°).
Composite reflectivity provides the highest precipitation echoes within all
of the elevation scan angles. The NEXRAD base or composite reflectivity
modes provide a display of echo intensity depicted by colors. NEXRAD
information is good for identifying precipitation intensity.
CAUTION: NEXRAD data must be used for strategic planning purposes only. Due to inherent delays and relative age of the data
that can be experienced, NEXRAD data cannot be used for tactical
avoidance of weather.
NEXRAD reflectivity images
older than 75 minutes are
discarded and no longer displayed.
Figure 1 shows a typical
NEXRAD display. Political
boundaries, rivers, lakes,
and oceans are depicted in
conjunction with weather.
The NEXRAD data map is
always displayed in a north
up orientation.
Value Added Service Weather Products
Figure 1
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The display range may be changed to zoom in on a specific area to get
a more detailed weather picture, or zoom out to display a wider range.
NEXRAD ABNORMALITIES
The following is a list of NEXRAD abnormalities that may be experienced:
1. Each NEXRAD site can operate in two modes, "Clear Air" mode or
"Precipitation" mode. When no significant precipitation exists in the scanning area of the radar a NEXRAD site produces images in the "Clear Air"
mode. In this mode the radar is very sensitive to small targets, making it
possible to detect minute particles such as pollen, smoke and dust.
2. Ground clutter is detected when nearby buildings, trees, and towers
reflect radar energy back to the NEXRAD site. Because NEXRAD is a
Doppler radar, many stationary targets are filtered out. However, if a
tower or tree sways slightly in the wind, it will show up on the scan as a
target. These “moving” objects are the targets referred to as ground
clutter. Radar returns from very near the site (within a radius 20-30 nautical miles) indicating very high reflectivities often include ground clutter.
3. Strobes are spurious radar data caused primarily by defractive
bending of the beam back down to the ground. This often happens in
areas where cool air interacts with prevailing warm air, such as along
coastlines and over oceans or other large bodies of water. Blocky and
linear features are characteristics of strobes within the displayed data.
4. Sun strobes occur when a radar antenna points directly at the sun.
This shows up as high reflectivity for one or two radials. Sun strobes are
shown as bright colored spikes on the display.
5. Military planes deploy metallic dust known as 'chaff' to diffuse their
radar signatures and mask their presence on radar. Pilots frequently
practice laying chaff trails over open ocean, although these trails often
drift over land causing alterations in weather radar scans.
6. When a solid object, such as a mountain, intersects a radar beam, it
blocks any reflectivity beyond that point and produces a shadow within
the display.
7. When a building near a NEXRAD site is taller than the tower on
which the radar antenna resides, it can block the beam, casting a long,
narrow shadow (blank space) in the display.
8. NEXRAD sites sometimes return data that is entirely spurious. This
is known as "going critical" and usually does not last longer than a few
hours.
9. Atmospheric temperature inversions cause radar returns from the
Earth's surface resulting in Anomalous Propagation (AP) echoes on the
radar display.
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10. Echoes from migrating birds, bats, and insects will be displayed as
circular patterns of level 1 reflectivity centered near NEXRAD sites.
11. Significant variation in humidity with altitude can cause reflections
from the Earth's surface. These reflections are also displayed as large
circular or oval areas of uniform low intensity.
12. Differences will be noted between the base reflectivity (VDL) and
composite (XM) products. The base reflectivity product displays the
lower extent of cloud masses, so the extent of water droplets appears to
be less. The composite product provides more airborne water reflection
seen at higher angles as viewed from the NEXRAD ground sites, so
higher level features of the convective activity will be given. For example,
the "blowout" portion of thunderstorms (the anvil portion) containing high
altitude ice particles is often depicted as light precipitation and might be
confused for lower altitude light precipitation. Either base or composite
product provide accurate, but somewhat time delayed depiction of high
levels of precipitation for fully developed or late stage thunderstorms.
NEXRAD LIMITATIONS
The following are limitations on the use of NEXRAD data:
1. NEXRAD does not provide sufficient information to determine cloud
layers, precipitation characteristics (frozen vs. liquid, hail vs. rain, etc),
nor does it provide information on turbulence, only the amount of
reflected energy from the precipitation.
2. The displayed NEXRAD product does not provide sufficient detail to
infer future weather trends. Due to delays involved in product creation
and transmittal, the pilot should always review the age bar to determine
information currency.
3. Due to NEXRAD site
location limitations, terrestrial
blockages and outages,
NEXRAD coverage gaps
exist. Coverage gaps are displayed as a cross hatched
pattern as shown in Figure 2.
Lack of reflectivity in a coverage gap area should not be
construed as a lack of precipitation. Coverage gaps are
portrayed indentically on
either VDL or XM.
4. The resolution of NEXRAD VDL data is 4 kilometers (km).Thus,
when zoomed in on the display, each square block is 4 km on a side.
The intensity level reflected by the square will be the highest level sampled within the 4 km area.
Value Added Service Weather Products
Figure 2
Coverage Gap
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The resolution of NEXRAD XM data is 2 km. Thus, when zoomed in on
the display, each square block is 2 km on a side. The intensity level
reflected by the square will be the highest level sampled within the 2 km
area.
INTENSITY
Precipitation intensity is depicted using colors as follows:
Green Light Level 1 15-30 dBz (10-30 dBz for XM))
Yellow Moderate Level 2 30-40 dBz
Red Heavy Level 3-4 40-50 dBz
Magenta Extreme Level 5-8 50+ dBz
The NEXRAD dBz levels, descriptions and colors are consistent with
FAA guidelines.
Moving the joystick and
pressing the MORE INFO
softkey will display the
NEXRAD legend as shown
in Figure 3a (FIS VDL) and
3b (XM WX).
The column labeled dBz is a
measure of the radar echo
intensity.
The strength of a radar
return signal typically varies
as a function of distance
(i.e., weaker from distant targets, stronger from those
nearby) and the object size.
Many weather sources available on the internet use
color coding that is different
than the KMD 550/850 color
coding. The dBz and intensity level can be used to
compare intensity levels
between different sources of
NEXRAD information since
many internet weather
providers will include a
legend with dBz values indicated.
No Data, as shown in the legend, indicates the lack of coverage for
reasons discussed previously.
Figure 3a
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Figure 3b
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PRECIPITATION TYPE
(AT SURFACE)
(XM ONLY)
The Precipitation Type (At
Surface) product is decoded
the same as the NEXRAD
information is. It is displayed
as shown in Figure 4.
Moving the joy stick in any
direction displays the MORE
INFO soft key on the right
side of the screen. Pressing
the RESET STICK soft key
or waiting 30 seconds will
return the screen to the previous Precipitation Type
selection.
When the MORE INFO soft
key is pressed the Legend
window is shown as in
Figure 6.
Pressing the OVERLAY
button displays overlay
selection soft keys on the
right side of the screen. This
allows selection of any of the
five different overlays
(depending upon availability)
for the Precipitation Type
screen. Overlay types are
Flight Plan, Storm Scope (if
installed), Data Link
Lightning and Severe
Weather Storm Track/Storm
Cells. The overlay selections
are highlighted on the
legend on the left side of the
screen. Press SAVE & EXIT
to complete the selection.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
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Pressing and holding the
OVERLAY key will display
the FIS Overlays window.
This window displays the
status of the overlays that
are available to the
Precipitation Type screen as
shown in Figure 8. The
window will no longer be displayed when the overlay key
is released.
FREEZING LEVELS
(XM ONLY)
The Freezing Level product
decoded and displayed in a
graphical format as shown in
Figure 9. The color code for
each altitude level is indicated in the legend box on
the right of the display.
Additionally the “IN” box in
the legend indicates the current level the aircraft is in.
Figure 9
Figure 8
Figure 7
Value Added Service Weather Products
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