Any new options for inflight weather ??

[Darren S]

My flying style has changed and I now NEED inflight weather.

I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on a Garmin Aera 510 and hooking up XM weather. I have an Advanced 3500 EFIS but I like the portability of the Garmin so road navigation is easier in the places I land.

I use an Ipad in the cockpit but as we all know, up at altitude the 3G reception sucks and I can't rely on it to update (Foreflight) the METARS, Flight Rules, Radar etc....

Questions:

1. Any new ways of using the iPad for inflight weather that is reliable ?
2. Does anyone currently use the Aera 510 with XM and have any issues ?
3. Other suggestions.

I thought I'd tap into the vast VAF knowledge base before I break out the VISA

Thanks,

Darren

[Echo Tango]

I cant comment specifically on technology and who offers what, because I just don't know. What I can do is climb up on my soapbox for a minute and address a few things I've noticed in the radar room. Two issues come to mind that some GA pilots aren't aware of and they are fairly important in respect to safety and aeronautical decision making: Latency, and Composite vs. Base Reflectivity.

First i will address latency: Latency is a fancy term for "How long has it taken for information to be received, disseminated, and appear to me as new information?" I've seen some pilots skirt 1/4 mile into a cell in IMC according to my raw (5 second old) radar return on the ground when they assured me that their (5 minute old) satellite weather showed it a mile off their wing. Hint: weather moves! Be aware of how old the information on your weather display is and don't try to pass ahead of a moving cell based on old information.

Secondly, the difference between base reflectivity and composite reflectivity is important as well. A thunderstorm does not always rise uniformly, nor does it always produce precipitation (what the radar is seeing) to the base of the storm (the difference here being a towering cumulus vs a fully mature thunderstorm). A towering cumulus (TCU) might not be as dangerous as a fully mature thunderstorm (TS)--I wouldnt want to fly in either--but one will show up on a Base return and one will not. Composite reflectivity will show precipitation throughout the altitude strata and highlight the strongest echo regardless of altitude. Base reflectivity only shows it at the ground. Both returns can be useful, but it's important to always know what you're looking at.

just some food for thought.

[Brantel]

Thats why I stay way the heck away from storms that show up on my screen!

An option for weather is ADS-B in using the Ipad and WingX. Foreflight is suppose to start supporting some of these options soon.

[Darren S]

I'll start researching but how does ADS-B work with the iPad? A separate subscription? An external antennae needed? I've never heard of this option so thanks for the suggestion Brantel.

[rwhittier]

The hardware isn't. Go to http://skyradar.net/ to read more. Also the WingX Pro Sy system runs that on th iPad. You might read about it there.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Darren S

I'll start researching but how does ADS-B work with the iPad? A separate subscription? An external antennae needed? I've never heard of this option so thanks for the suggestion Brantel.

[NickAir]

Thanks for the link. I am also interested.

[Sig600]

Originally Posted by Echo Tango

I cant comment specifically on technology and who offers what, because I just don't know. What I can do is climb up on my soapbox for a minute and address a few things I've noticed in the radar room. Two issues come to mind that some GA pilots aren't aware of and they are fairly important in respect to safety and aeronautical decision making: Latency, and Composite vs. Base Reflectivity.

First i will address latency: Latency is a fancy term for "How long has it taken for information to be received, disseminated, and appear to me as new information?" I've seen some pilots skirt 1/4 mile into a cell in IMC according to my raw (5 second old) radar return on the ground when they assured me that their (5 minute old) satellite weather showed it a mile off their wing. Hint: weather moves! Be aware of how old the information on your weather display is and don't try to pass ahead of a moving cell based on old information.

Secondly, the difference between base reflectivity and composite reflectivity is important as well. A thunderstorm does not always rise uniformly, nor does it always produce precipitation (what the radar is seeing) to the base of the storm (the difference here being a towering cumulus vs a fully mature thunderstorm). A towering cumulus (TCU) might not be as dangerous as a fully mature thunderstorm (TS)--I wouldnt want to fly in either--but one will show up on a Base return and one will not. Composite reflectivity will show precipitation throughout the altitude strata and highlight the strongest echo regardless of altitude. Base reflectivity only shows it at the ground. Both returns can be useful, but it's important to always know what you're looking at.

just some food for thought.

+Avoid by 20nm around, and 5000' over the top. Minimum.

[Kevin Horton]

Originally Posted by Darren S

2. Does anyone currently use the Aera 510 with XM and have any issues ?

I've got an Aera 510 with XM WX, and have no complaints at all. It works very well, both in the air and in a car.

[Brantel]

Navworx has a solution for the IPad and WingX supports it right now. Foreflight is suppose to soon. It uses a Wifi adaptor on the Navworx box. I think the adaptor is like 189 bucks.

You also have to buy the Navworx UAT. The receiver if you already have ADS-B out or the transceiver if you need the Full Monty.

[Walt]

Lots of suggestion using ADS-B for weather, but is it available in Canada? I thought this was only available in the USA for free weather and traffic.