The app gives pilots a comprehensive, up-to-date view of weather along the planned route of flight, which makes it easier to plan for weather-related diversions. Currently, pilots are often referring to outdated printouts or occasional radio dispatches, some hours old, for weather information. The service can save time for pilots, reduce fuel costs for airlines, and increase safety and comfort for passengers.
Honeywell’s Weather Information Service is simple and fast for pilots to use; it was designed by studying their tablet usage, habits and preferences. The app will be regularly updated to provide the latest features to pilots, and the next release will be available in late 2015. The service builds on the success of its current graphical weather product and will also complement the company’s IntuVue 3-D Weather Radar.
People are accustomed to having information at their fingertips with personal electronic devices, whether they are on the ground or in the air. Honeywell is placing more emphasis on the customer experience and support throughout all phases of a flight by offering services to ensure that anyone involved in flying has easy access to the information they need, when they need it, to enhance efficiency and safety.
Honeywell’s Weather Information Service will greatly help pilots gain more awareness of their environment by providing up-to-date weather information throughout a flight. Current features include:
Weather radar display shows potentially hazardous weather in a graphical format, localized spatially on a map, making it easy for pilots to understand and make critical in-flight routing decisions.
Cumulonimbus cloud display allows pilots to get a vertical view of potential storm clouds. This lets them compare weather conditions at different altitudes, making routing safer and more efficient.
Clear air turbulence prediction display clearly shows potential areas of greater turbulence, making flights safer and helping to reduce aircraft damage and maintenance.
Satellite-derived cloud heights allow a more accurate look at the changing weather, so pilots can avoid hazards.
3-D winds aloft show direction and speed of wind in an aircraft’s flight path so pilots can choose the best possible route, helping to reduce fuel use and emissions.