Heli-Expo 2008, Houston TX — February 24, 2008: Avidyne Corporation’s new TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection system is now available for installation in helicopters, providing rotary wing operators with full color-contoured, dynamic lightning depictions which will greatly enhance their ability to avoid severe weather. The TWX670’s real-time display of storm cell intensity eliminates the guesswork associated with interpreting previous-generation lightning systems. The TWX670 is designed for installation on both rotary and fixed wing aircraft.
The TWX670 is ideal for helicopters, especially those which operate offshore or outside the continental US where satellite datalink graphical weather information is not available. An excellent complement to existing satellite-based weather data systems, its innovative design also allows it to display lightning strikes which occur within 0-25 nautical miles of the aircraft, in real time. Thanks to its advanced signal processing, calibration, and built-in noise immunity it minimizes radial spread and adds another layer of capability to previously available products.
With its Avidyne-exclusive TWxCell™ Mode, storm cells and their intensities are displayed as color-filled hexagons which highlight the most intense regions of thunderstorm activity, presenting a visually contoured color display. The TWX670 provides a color map of a thunderstorm’s electrical activity over time, which easily allows the pilot to determine the areas of greatest intensity, and clearly identify areas with potential for convective wind shear, turbulence, micro-bursts, hail and icing. The system’s close-range accuracy is further enhanced by a geo-stabilization which compensates for aircraft maneuvering.
“The TWX670’s intuitive, color-contoured displays make it a step up when it comes to weather avoidance systems. Nothing else like it is available in the commercial helicopter market,” said Tom Harper, Avidyne’s Director of Marketing. “This system depicts lightning activity, intensity and proximity at levels previously unavailable to general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft, allowing operators to interpret the intensity of weather they encounter in real time and react quickly.”
The TWX670 is available for helicopter operations when interfaced with Avidyne’s MHD300 Multi-Hazard Display. The MHD300’s compact 3-ATI size allows for installation in typically crowded helicopter instrument panels. The MHD300 displays the TWX670’s full-color TWxCell™ Mode and color Strike Mode, and will also show “Cell+Strike Mode,” which combines the benefits of both display formats on a single display. The MHD300 also provides display capability for Traffic Advisory Systems, such as Avidyne’s TAS600 series, and Honeywell’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS).
An added benefit of the TWX670 is that it is much easier to install than previous-generation systems. During setup it provides a spectrum analyzer-like display to clearly identify sources of onboard electrical noise, making antenna location much simpler and eliminating much of the hassle typically associated with lightning system installations.
The TWX670 expands the suite of available safety sensors developed by Avidyne, which also includes the popular TAS600 Series Traffic Advisory System and the MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver.
The TWX670 will also interface with Avidyne’s EX5000 MFD in fixed-wing Entegra-equipped aircraft. When updated with Release 7 software, the EX5000 MFD provides the necessary interface with the TWX670 and currently supports “Strike Mode.” TWxCell Mode and Color Strike Mode will be supported in a future MFD software release.
“It is a logical step for us to adapt the TWX670’s innovative technology to the helicopter marketplace,” said Dan Schwinn, Avidyne’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It enhances the utility and safety of rotary wing aircraft that are often compelled to operate in situations where datalink-based weather information is unavailable or insufficient for making tactical weather avoidance decisions. It’s the latest advancement offered by our Safety Systems Group, which was formerly Ryan International and builds on the expertise and experience they gained as developers of the original Stormscope®.”
Pricing and Availability
The TWX670 Tactical Lightning Detection System has received Technical Standard Order acceptance under TSO C110a, and received European (ETSO) approval in February, 2008 (See companion release). The TWX670 is offered as a standard option on the Piper PA-46 Matrix, and Avidyne is currently working toward an AML STC for the TWX670 w/MHD300, which is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2008. Additional display compatibility announcements will be forthcoming. The TWX670 sells for $7,995 retail. The MHD300 Multi-Hazard Display is available now for $8,995 retail. With Avidyne’s Multi-Hazard Avoidance System (MHAS) package pricing, the cost of both systems, purchased together, is $14,990 retail, for a savings of $2,000.
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 Entegra integrated flight decks for new aircraft, Envision integrated flight decks for 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 and the TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection system. Headquartered in Lincoln, MA, the company has facilities in Columbus, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Boulder, CO.
Avidyne®, Entegra™ and Envision® are trademarks of Avidyne Corporation. All other products or services are identified by trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
