Stormscope Operation; Introduction; Functional Description - Honeywell KMD-150 Pilot's Manual

Stormscope Operation

STORMSCOPE OPERATION

INTRODUCTION

Your Bendix/King KMD 150 is capable of being interfaced to a
BFGoodrich WX-500 Stormscope Series II Weather Mapping Sensor.
The WX-500 detects electrical discharges associated with thunderstorms
within a 200 nm radius of the aircraft. The information is then sent to
your KMD 150 that will display the location of the thunderstorms both on
the map screens and on a dedicated Stormscope screen.
The WX-500 Stormscope Sensor is a passive system that listens for
electromagnetic signals with a receiving antenna. There's no transmitter
and no harmful transmissions. The system operates as well on the
ground as in the air, thereby giving the pilot important planning informa-
tion even before takeoff.
Figure 13-1- Functional Diagram

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

The antenna detects the electric and magnetic fields generated by intra-
cloud, inter-cloud, or cloud-to-ground electrical discharges that occur
within a 200 nm radius of the aircraft and sends the resulting "discharge
signals" to the processor. The processor digitizes, analyzes, and con-
verts the discharge signals into range and bearing data then stores the
data in memory. The WX-500 processor then communicates this infor-
mation to the KMD 150 as 'strikes' and 'cells'. The WX-500 updates the
KMD 150 every two seconds.
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Rev 1 Mar/2000 KMD 150 Pilot's Guide