Pilots can never have too much in-flight weather information, and to help fill that infinite need, XM Satellite Radio on Monday said it is releasing a new real-time weather package called Aviator Pro, from XM WX Satellite Weather. Although designed for the professional aviator, the product aims to serve all pilots, the company said. “This increased weather data will significantly improve pilots’ situational awareness in-flight, especially at higher altitudes,” said Roderick Mackenzie, vice president of advanced applications for XM Radio. New features include high-altitude turbulence data, a convective outlook that classifies severe thunderstorm threats across the U.S., a severe weather watch that provides warnings before a watch is issued, hurricane track forecasts,icing probabilities, and more. The brand-new product is being unveiled for the first time at AirVenture this week, and costs $99.99 per month. XM WX also said on Monday it will add more functionality to its standard $49.99 per month Satellite Weather Aviator package.
It will add three new products — air reports, pilot reports and Storm Prediction Center Aviation Weather Watches — at no additional charge. The new products will help to enhance pilots’ situational awareness, the company said. In order to receive and display the XM WX data, pilots must have a subscription to the XM WX service, as well as an XM WX capable receiver, antenna and screen display. In order to receive and display the XM WX data, pilots must have a subscription to the XM WX service, as well as an XM WX capable receiver, antenna and electronic display monitor. These new products will be on display at at the XM WX booth at AirVenture this week.
