Page 9 - 213718_September20T

Aerox
Carbon Fiber Diluter Demand Mask
like the new RDR 7000 can interface with a variety of current-generation cockpit display units as long as they support ARINC 708 or 453 interfaces.
If your aircraft is equipped with a legacy BendixKing RDR 2000-series unit, the company is offering its RDR 2060 upgrade. Basically, you upgrade the receiver/transmitter (RT) unit, which increases the radar’s range up to 320 nm. The upgrade also provides some new-generation features like Auto Tilt, Auto Range Limiting and Sector Scan.
Weather Changes. So Do Weather Avoidance Systems
Another capability unique to the new generation of solid-state/digital radars is the ability for manufacturers to add new features and capabilities via software upgrades. That’s just not possible with analog systems.
So, what does future radar look like? While neither company would offer up any real information, they did share a few long-range prognostications at
what we may well see on tomorrow’s cockpit displays.
Features they suggested may be forthcoming are a digitally enabled technology that would allow aircraft to digitally link together to share weather information to create a more detailed picture. Another capability may well be the system’s ability to predict the track and growth of storm cells. That could be very beneficial for strategic, long-range storm avoidance planning.
We’ll see. But no matter what the future of weather radar brings, it’s all coming together to do one thing: Give pilots the information they need to steer clear of dangerous weather.
Dale Smith has been a commercial, private and business aviation marketing and media communications specialist for nearly 40 years. He is an award- wining aviation journalist and aviation artist. Dale has been a licensed pilot since 1974 and has flown more than 40 different types of aircraft. Contact Dale at dalesmith206@comcast.net.
Detroit Radiant Products Co.
September 2020 / TWIN & TURBINE • 7