User's Guide for the Stormscope® WX-500 - …

1 user s GuideWX-500$ II Weather Mapping Sensor StormscopeStormscope user s GuideWX-500$ II Weather Mapping SensorAStormscope WX-500 user s GuideStormscope System AdvantagesWelcomeBFGoodrich avionics Systems, the world s most experienced company in airbornethunderstorm avoidance instruments, is pleased to welcome you to the family of tens ofthousands of pilots who are enjoying the benefits of safer flight with a Stormscope weathermapping OriginalDon t be fooled by Stormscope system look-alikes. There is only one Stormscope system, andonly one company that makes the Stormscope line of weather mapping systems.

2 TheStormscope system, the original, most accurate weather mapping system is manufactured byBFGoodrich avionics with Greater ConfidenceYou now own the leading instrument in the world for airborne detection and mapping ofthunderstorms. Unlike any other product, your new Stormscope sensor will enable you tomake better informed thunderstorm avoidance decisions so you can fly more safely andwith greater confidence than ever FeaturesThe advanced, patented technology in your new Stormscope was developed over many yearsand is so unique, so revolutionary, it surpasses all others.

3 Here are some of its features: Precisely maps electrical discharges 200 nmi range 120 and 360 view of surrounding airspace Outputs both cell and strike data Copyright 1997 BFGoodrich avionics Systems, is a registered trademark ofBFGoodrich avionics Systems, and manufactured in the United States of America byMethods and apparatus disclosed and described herein have been developed solely on company funds ofBFGoodrich avionics Systems, Inc. No government or other contractual support or relationship whatsoever hasexisted which in any way affects or mitigates proprietary rights of BFGoodrich avionics Systems, Inc.

4 In thesedevelopments. Methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be subject to Patents existing or applied avionics Systems, Inc. reserves the right to add, improve, modify, or withdraw functions, designmodifications, or products at any time without user s GuideWX-500 Series II Weather Mapping Sensor$ WX-500 user s GuideSafety SummaryThese warnings and cautions appear later in this Guide and are repeated here for emphasis: (page 4-1)Never use your Stormscope system to attempt to penetrate a FAA Advisory Circular, Subject.

5 Thunderstorms, and the Airman sInformation Manual (AIM) recommend that a pilot avoid by at least 20miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo. CAUTION (page 4-1)There are several atmospheric phenomena other than nearby thunder-storms which can cause isolated discharge points in the strike displaymode. Clusters of two or more discharge points in the strike display modehowever do indicate thunderstorm activity when they reappear after clear-ing the screen. Avoid the clusters and you ll avoid the thunderstorms.

6 Inthe cell display mode, even a single discharge point may representthunderstorm activity and should be NoticeAll Stormscope WX-500 functions are controlled through variousMulti-Function Displays (MFDs). The many capabilities of theWX-500 allow MFD manufacturers to create screens compatiblewith the various functions of their display. The display screensillustrated in this Guide are intended to be characteristic of a groupof MFDs that are configured to work with the WX-500 . Theexamples are intended to assist the pilot in interpreting lightningdata output by the WX-500 .

7 Each MFD will show the informationconsistent with the capabilities of that particular WX-500 user s GuideiiiTable of ContentsPageList of ivList of ivChapter 1 1-1 General Description .. 1-1 Processor .. 1-1 Functional 1-2 Cell Data .. 1-2 Strike Data .. 1-2 Strike Rate .. 1-3 Features .. 1-3 Chapter 2 Storm Mapping 2-1 Anatomy of a 2-1 Stages of a 2-2 Cumulus 2-2 Mature Stage .. 2-2 Dissipating 2-2 The W X-500 and Weather 2-3 Chapter 3 3-1 Introduction .. 3-1 Continuous and Operator-Initiated Self 3-1 Clear All Discharge 3-1 Heading 3-1 Error 3-2 Nonfatal 3-4 Recoverable 3-4 Nonrecoverable 3-4 Fatal 3-4 Chapter 4 Weather Display 4-1 Introduction.

8 4-1 Radial 4-2 Typical Patterns .. 4-2 Three Clusters within the 200 nmi 4-2 Two Clusters within the 200 nmi 4-4 Mapping Headings Past 4-4 Range Set at 200 4-4 Aircraft Progresses 100 4-4 Range Changes to 100 4-6 Aircraft Turns to Avoid 4-6ivUser s GuideTable of ContentsStormscope WX-500 List of IllustrationsFigureTitlePage1-1 Major 1-11-2 Functional 1-22-1 Electrical Discharges in 2-12-2 Discharge Rate a Function of Wind Shear .. 2-24-1 Airspace 4-14-2 Three Clusters Within 200 4-34-3 Range Changed to 100 4-34-4 Two Clusters Within 200 4-44-5 Range Set at 200 4-54-6 Aircraft Progresses 100 4-54-7 Range Changes to 100 4-74-8 Aircraft Turns to Avoid 4-74-9 Randomly Scattered Discharge 4-84-10 Cluster and Splattering Within 25 4-84-11 Discharge Points Off Aircraft s 4-94-12 Line of Discharge Points While Cluster Within 25 nmi of TablesTableTitlePage3-1 Error 3-25-1 Stormscope W X-500 5-1 Special Patterns.

9 4-6 Randomly Scattered Discharge 4-6 Cluster and Splattering Within 25 4-6 Discharge Points Off Aircraft s 4-9 Line of Discharge Points While 4-9 Developing Cluster Within the 25 nmi 4-9 Chapter 5 5-1 Chapter 6 Warranty 6-1 Introduction .. 6-1 Warrant y Statement .. 6-1 Related Policies and 6-2 Table of Contents (Continued)PageStormscope WX-500 user s GuideChapter 1 DescriptionGENERAL DESCRIPTIONThe Stormscope WX-500 Series II Weather Mapping Sensor detects electrical dischargesassociated with thunderstorms within a 200 nmi radius of the aircraft.

10 This information isthen sent to an external multifunction display (MFD) that plots the location of theassociated WX-500 is a passive sensor that listens for electromagnetic signals with a receivingantenna. There s no transmitter and no harmful transmissions. The WX-500 operates aswell on the ground as in the air, thereby giving the pilot important planning informationeven before 1-1 shows the two major components of the WX-500 . Figure 1-2 shows how thecomponents are connected to each other and to other aircraft 1-1.