BendixKing KMD 540 User Manual

N

B KMD 550/850

Multi-Function Display

Flight Information Services

(FIS)

Pilot’s Guide Addendum

For Software Version 02/02 and later

Revision 6 Feb/2009

006-18237-0000

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.

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: [phone].

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-1

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-2

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-3

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-4

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-5

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

R-6

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

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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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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Introduction

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.

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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.

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Introduction

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.

No-cost VDL Subscription	Fee-based XM Subscription
Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs)	Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METARs)
Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports	Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports
(SPECIs)	(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
	Precipitation Type, Freezing Levels, Winds
Graphical Alert Weather Watches	Aloft, Severe Weather Storm Track SCITs,
	Temporary Flight Restrictions TFR's

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.

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Introduction

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 meteorological 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.

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Basic Service Weather Products

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.

VDL Icon	XM Icon	Colors	Description
		Black on a cyan	No weather data is currently being
		background.	received but previously received data is
			being displayed on the present page.
		Black on a cyan	Weather data is currently being received
		background.	from a signal and displayed on the present
			page. XM signal is weak.
		Black on a cyan	Weather data is currently being received
		background.	from a signal and displayed on the present
			page. XM signal is marginal.
		Black on a cyan	Weather data is currently being received
		background.	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 pre-
			sent page.
		Black on gray with	Fault with connection or data link radio.
		red slash.
		Black on gray.	Graphical METAR overlay is available but
			not displayed.
		Black, green and	Graphical METAR overlay is enabled and
		yellow on cyan.	displayed.
		Black on gray.	Weather data not being received.
			Graphical METAR overlay is available but
			not displayed.
		Black, green and	Weather data not being received.
		yellow on cyan.	Graphical METAR overlay is enabled and
			displayed.
		Black on gray with	Radio Fault. Graphical METAR overlay is
		red slash.	available but not displayed.
		Black on gray with	Radio Fault. Graphical METAR overlay is
		red slash; Black,	enabled and displayed.
		green and yellow on
		cyan.

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VDL Icon					XM Icon	Colors		Description
	N/A				No TFR Icon			TFR data is not being received.
					present.
						Black on gray.		TFR data is being received but is not cur-
	N/A
								rently being displayed.
						Black on cyan.		TFR data is being received and displayed.
	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.

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.

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

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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.

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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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Basic Service Weather Products

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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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

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
		Figure 1
up orientation.
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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.

Coverage Gap

Figure 2

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.

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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.

Figure 3a

Figure 3b

No Data, as shown in the legend, indicates the lack of coverage for reasons discussed previously.

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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.

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Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

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