LABACE, Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 14, 2008 — Avidyne Corporation announced today that 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.
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, Wisconsin, the company announced that 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 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.
The compact MLX770 datalink transceiver weighs only 1.64 kgs (3.6 lbs.) and is contained in a 152mm x 203mm x 76mm (6.0”x8.0”x3.0”) box. It can be mounted with our without the optional mounting tray. The MLX770 uses an Iridium patch antenna, which measures 88mm in diameter x 14mm high (3.5” dia x ¾”) and fits easily on virtually any light general aviation aircraft or helicopter. Designed specifically for Avidyne Entegra customers and EX-series MFDs users, the MLX770 provides access to ground-based weather radar data, METARs — meteorological activity reports that typically summarize actual weather at an aerodrome on a 30-60 minute basis, TAFs — Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts which give predicted weather conditions expected at an aerodrome, usually for a 9 or 24 hour period, and textual winds and temperatures aloft information at various altitudes. Additionally, weather advisories for a particular flight information region are provided via the NOTAMs product.
Pricing and Availability
The price for the globally-capable MLX770 Two-Way Datalink Transceiver with antenna starts at $11,995 USD plus installation. Avidyne is accepting orders now for the MLX770, with initial deliveries beginning in Q4 2008. Service pricing is expected to average $70-$120 per month based on 10 hours of flying per month. For information, international customers can contact Avidyne via telephone at +1 512.331.5323 in the USA or via e-mail at avidyne.com.
About Avidyne Corporation (www.avidyne.com)Avidyne’s continuing leadership in innovation and its Flying Made Simple™ system design make flying safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for pilots and their passengers. The company’s expanding line of products include the industry-leading Entegra integrated flight deck systems for new and existing aircraft, datalink-capable EX5000 and EX500 multi-function displays and the dual-antenna TAS600 series of active traffic advisory systems, the MLB700 broadcast datalink receiver, the MLX770 world-wide datalink transceiver, and the TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection system. Headquartered in Lincoln, MA, the company has facilities in Columbus, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Boulder, CO.
Avidyne® and Entegra™ are trademarks of Avidyne Corporation. All other products or services are identified by trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
