Vaisala AWS520 Technical data

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Vaisala Fixed Site Observation System AWS520

temperature and humidity (dew
point), precipitation accumulation,
cloud height and coverage, visibility,
precipitation type and lightning.
The AWS520 is capable of reporting
the prevailing weather conditions
to pilots and other users by number
of different media. Spoken weather
reports are available through a voice
module using a VHF radio transceiver

The AWS520 has been selected by the US Air Force for their OS21 fixed base system
program.

Features

Cost-eective stand-alone

▪

weather observation and
reporting system for real-time
aviation applications

Aviation support for defense

▪

operations at uncategorized
airports, helipads, small
unmanned landing strips and
test / training ranges

Significant aviation weather

▪

parameters are measured by
one compact unit installed on
a pole mast

Accurate measurements with

▪

built-in data validation

Large variety of dierent

▪

sensors and telemetry options

Suitable for harshest arctic and

▪

coastal locations

Ease of use with advanced

▪

display products

Core measurement unit in

▪

FMQ-22 for US Air Force OS21
fixed based system program

Compact and robust

The Vaisala Fixed Site Observation
System AWS520 offers high
performance in a very compact
package, integrated upon a steady
10 meter pole mast. The mast tubes
are made of anodized aluminum and
painted with aviation specic colors.
All remaining parts of the main
assembly are made of acid-proof
stainless steel to resist weathering.
One person can quickly and safely
tilt the mast to install and maintain
the sensors and other equipment.
The base of the mast is set on a single
concrete pad making the installation
easy and economical.

Aviation meteorological
support

The AWS520 measures the
meteorological parameters needed
in aviation including wind speed
and direction (Gust and Squall),
atmospheric pressure (QFF, QFE,
QNH, pressure tendency), air

or a public switch telephone line.
The data reports can be also sent
via satellite telemetry, LAN, hard­wire modem to a standard laptop PC
provided with software to display
numerical and graphical data and
code automatically METAR and SPECI
aviation weather reports. A weather­resistant pocket PC with graphical
display software is available as
an easy-to-use local display and
maintenance terminal.

Field-proven quality
measurements

The AWS520 is equipped with built­in algorithms to ensure the quality
of each measurement and a testing
system to continuously check the
correct operation of the hardware.
For each parameter, tests are carried
out on the minimum, maximum and
step limits. For regional, national
and international airports Vaisala
recommends use of Vaisala AviMet
Automated Weather Observing
System (AWOS) conforming
to applicable ICAO and WMO
recommendations.

®

Technical data

General

Data Collection Platform Vaisala Data Logger QML201A
Temperature

Operating *) -50 ... +60 °C (-58 ... 140 °F)
Storage -50 ... +70 °C (-58 ... 158 °F)
Humidity 0 ... 100 % RH
EMC In compliance with EN 61326-1 (2001-12)

Electrical equipment for measurement,

control and laboratory use

- EMC requirements - for use in industrial locations
IP rating NEMA 4X/IP-66
Materials Acid-proof stainless steel

Painted aluminium

Plastic
Mast**) Tiltable 10 m (30 ft) pole mast
Enclosure 600 (H) x 400 (W) x 200 (D) mm
Weight Enclosure approx 20 kg

Mast with sensors approx 150 ... 200 kg
Maximum wind speed With two sets of guy wires 75 m/s (130 kt)
Powering **) 90 ... 264 VAC, 45 ... 65 Hz
Internal battery 12 Ah/12 V
Battery regulator Charge/recharge control

Temperature compensation

Deep discharge protection

Simultaneous inputs from solar and AC power allowed

Data validation, calculations and reports **)

Data quality control Upper/lower climatological limits

Step change validation

Sensor status indication

Statistical calculations Averaging periods

Minimum/maximum values

Cumulative values

Other calculations Dew point

QNH, QFE, QFF, pressure tendency

Gust, Squall

Day/night visibility

Weather data reports (w / AviMet or AOS sw) METAR and

SPECI reports are

ICAO compliant with AviMet software and

AFMAN 15-111 compliant with AOS software

Standard communication options **)

Satellite communication Iridium, Inmarsat-C
Wireless communication UHF, VHF, Voice radio, GSM, GPRS
Landline communication RS232, RS485 bus, PSTN,

Fixed line, LAN, Optical fibre

Data displays DD50*, WD30(TU)*, WD50*,

Pocket/Laptop/Tabletop PC
The spoken weather reports via VHF radio or public switch
telephone line

*) For further extended range, please contact Vaisala
**) For other calculation, reporting, mast, solar powering, sensor
and communication options, please contact Vaisala
***) Further technical information available on individual
product-specific datasheets

Standard sensor options **)

COMMERCIAL-OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS) SENSOR*** OPTIONS
FOR AWS520:

Vaisala WINDCAP® Ultrasonic Wind Sensor

Wind speed & direction WS425

®

Vaisala HUMICAP
Temperature Sensor

Air temperature, relative humidity & dew point QMH102M

Vaisala BAROCAP

Atmospheric pressure PTB220/PTB330

Vaisala Precipitation Sensor

Rain/precipitation QMR102, RG13

Vaisala Visibility and Present Wear Sensor

Visibility & present weather PWD22

Vaisala Ceilometer

Cloud height & coverage/vertical visibility CL31

Vaisala Thunderstorm Sensor

Lightning SA20MP
Core measurement unit in FMQ-22 for US
Air Force OS21 fixed based system program

Relative Humidity and

®

Pressure Sensor

For more information, visit
www.vaisala.com or contact
us at [e-mail]

Ref. B210728EN-B ©Vaisala 2009

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prohibited. All specifications — technical included — are subject
to change without notice.