[Avionics Magazine 01-23-2017] Weather data from Brazil, Central and South America are now to be included in Rockwell Collins’ global aircraft observation weather program for the first time, the company says. LATAM Airlines recently signed an agreement for its fleet for inclusion in the program, which is a joint endeavor between Rockwell Collins and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Photo: Rockwell Collins
The program aims to improve the accuracy of forecasts for both the aviation industry and the general public.
“Since 1991, Rockwell Collins’ ARINC Meteorological Data Collection and Reporting System (MDCRS) has gathered information such as wind speed, air temperature and turbulence from commercial aircraft for the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration,” says the company. “In 2007, ARINC MDCRS added the measurement of humidity via new water vapor sensors, providing valuable insight into the prediction of flight-disrupting weather.”
According to its website, LATAM Airlines flies a fleet comprising the Boeing 787-9, 787-8 and 767-300; and the Airbus 350, 321, 320-200 and 319.