Flying with MT-Satellite Radar

Seamless meteorological information (raw data of the DWD -German Met Office) in excellent quality before and during flight allows intelligent variations of possible flight routes and takeoff time between or after moving fronts or squall lines.

The radar images are stored chronologically and can be „flipped through“. This gives the option of monitoring clearly presented meteorological data over long periods and thus effectively increases the chances of accurate prediction of cell motion.

The distinct advantage compared to ordinary radar systems: CB lines represent an impenetrable „wall“ for on-board radar. With MT-Satellite Radar an omni-directional radar detection is possible. The real geometry of rain, snow or thunder clouds is read and presented.

MT Satellite Radar on the MFD

Radar information layed over the Moving Map

® registered trademark. This process is legally protected.

Primary precipitation data is refined by a mathematical process similar to focusing and is therefore closer to a human-interpretable image (i.e. re-naturalized). This is achieved by three-dimensional filtering, by which the different levels of intensity can be represented more in their natural course rather than in rough stages.

The semi-transparent overlay of radar on charts of different type and scale enables the parallel use of Moving Map and radar. Radar pictures can be set into relation to the own flight position at a glance.

Avoidance of certain precipitation areas

Test flights using MT-Satellite radar have proven: icing can be avoided for the most part by consequent circumnavigation of areas of heavier precipitation or condensation.

Precipitation colour codes

The following color codes are common in general aviation and provide a clear interpretation of meteorological hazards.

Blue = very heavy precipitation, strong CB activity, hail

Red = heavy precipitation, occasionally CBs

Yellow = medium intensity of precipitation

Green = in clouds: condensed humidity; below the clouds: light rain/snow

Evaluation techniques with real Radar

No standalone sensor can detect the weather and analyze it for you exactly. Weatherradar measures the really dangerous appearances most direct and displays them. However, many things like fog etc. remain unrecognized.

CB clouds

A cloud with high condensations content shows, if subcooled, a high freezing potential. A CB
cloud with measured condensations shows besides icing also pellets and hail.
Because plenty of rainfall is the condensate created by strong updrafts it indirectly shows additionally
updraft and turbulence areas.

Updraft creates condensate, CB clouds arise

Weather radar should be measured only with low intensity radiation levels. There is (good for our
health) no weather radar satellites and thus no worldwide radar picture !

Weather versus Radar - any Difference?

 "Weather" is offered for MFD systems. If such "weather" covers large territorry it is calculated by "non radar pictures", for example estimated or derived physically / mathematically from cloud tops. These tops are in turn derived from cloud temperatures which are measured per satellite via IR.

Basically the analysis of single cloud towers works well. In embedded weather situations though, which are more dangerous because optic recognizability is no longer possible for the pilot, the "weather" is inacurate and subject to misinterpretations.

Typical embedded weather situation

Particularly layered clouds (see picture) spoil the "weather" evaluation out of "top view".
"Weather" evaluated in such a way is much  more subject to model assumptions and mistakes than the
actual measured "radar".

A large-scaled  "radar picture" is assembled from extensively sampled single radar sweeps (composite process). Radar composite is much more expensive to do than to evaluate an IR satellite picture, but shows much more realistic where really  "music" is inside embedded clouds.

Weather Avoidance?

The pilot wants to avoid significant weather areas / dangerous areas, not weather in general. To use the help of a weather radar is the most reliable option. But how and when?

It is ideal if preflight information ist continued into the inflight information. It is also ideal if the large-scale information which is used for flight planning in order to avoid bad weather-zones will remain available during flight.

MT-Enhanced Radar: Radar picture for the entire route

One can try to circumnavigate bad weather tactically (small maneuvers). For this purposes a conventional onboard radar is suited best - with the limitation that such systems can not see behind the cell, suggesting free flight where the conditions might be even worse.

One can circumnavigate bad weather areas strategically (larger maneuvers) and save distance and time
if there is a two dimensional, satellite-transmitted composite picture available in the cockpit.

The best is a picture where the situation is visible for the entire route, including favourable deviations.

MT-Enhanced Radar:
Flight from Lyon to Memmingen, heavy weather over Bern in FL280. The pilot knows where what to expect and takes the choice between "circumnavigating" or flying between the cells.

Enhanced-Radar Display MT VisionAir X

The VisionAir X is the only system on the market that delivers

not "Weather" but real Radar

and at the same time gets the radar picture all over Europe with a single download. It is displayed immediately. The picture during flight planning is of the same quality and identical in presentaton to the inflight scenario.

MT-Enhanced Radar: instant recognition - also during approach - what conditions prevail. Also tactical navigation and avoidance

Enhanced Radar Coverage

Radar all over Europe.

Enhanced Radar Coverage

New: prices and connection times

Costs

Iridium:  invoices per minute or part thereof !
Thuraya: invoices only the data volume and remains online free of charge (flat)

Antenna Situation: