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L3 comminications Stormscope II Series Pilot's Manual

Weather mapping system
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Pilot's Guide
Pilot's Guide
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Stormscope
Stormscope
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Series II Weather Mapping System
Series II Weather Mapping System
Model WX-950
Model WX-950

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Summary of Contents for L3 comminications Stormscope II Series

  • Page 1 Pilot’s Guide Pilot’s Guide for the for the Stormscope Stormscope ® ® Series II Weather Mapping System Series II Weather Mapping System Model WX-950 Model WX-950...
  • Page 2 Important Notices • This data is provided at no charge, or at cost, to the public and is considered publicly available, icense equired as defined in the xport dministration (NLR) egulations (EAR) P 734.7-11 • This guide provides general information about the operation of the .
  • Page 3 Pilot’s Guide for the Stormscope ® Series II Weather Mapping System Model WX-950 Methods and apparatus disclosed and described herein have been developed solely on company funds of L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, Inc. No government or other contractual support or rela- tionship whatsoever has existed which in any way affects or mitigates proprietary rights of L-3 Commu- nications Avionics Systems, Inc.
  • Page 4 ® Stormscope System Advantages Welcome ommunications vionics ystems, Inc. one of the L-3 C world’s most experienced companies in airborne thunder- storm avoidance instruments, is pleased to welcome you to the family of tens of thousands of pilots who are enjoying ®...
  • Page 5 Revision Highlights This revision of the pilot’s guide makes the following changes: • Changes occurrences of “ oodrich vionics ystems” to “ ommunications vionics ystems, nc.” or just “ L-3 C vionics ystems” and makes related company contact information changes. (On arch oodrich 2003...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Section Page List of Illustrations ......vii List of Tables ........viii Chapter 1, System Description ... 1-1 General Description ............... 1-1 Display/Processor ..............1-2 Antenna ................. 1-2 Functional Description ............1-2 Cell Display Mode ............. 1-2 Strike Display Mode ............
  • Page 8 Table of Contents (continued) Section Page Clear All Discharge Points ............3-9 Switch Between WX Display Modes ........3-10 Run the Operator-Initiated Self Test ........3-11 Toggle Heading Stabilization On and Off ......3-12 Turn Off the WX-950 ............3-13 Continuous Self Test .............3-13 Error Messages ..............

  • Page 9: List Of Illustrations

    List of Illustrations Figure Title Page WX-950 Major Components ............1-1 WX-950 Functional Diagram ............1-3 WX-950 Weather Views ..............1-3 Electrical Discharges in Thunderstorms .......... 2-1 Discharge Rate a Function of Wind Shear ........2-2 Controls & Screen Elements ............3-1 Self Test in Progress ................

  • Page 10: List Of Tables

    List of Tables Table Title Page Error Messages ................3-14 WX-950 System Specifications ............5-1 ® viii Stormscope WX-950 Pilot’s Guide...

  • Page 11: Chapter 1, System Description

    C h a p t e r 1 System Description General Description ® tormscope eries eather apping ystem, model II W (figure ) detects electrical discharges from WX-950 thunderstorms up to nautical miles away and displays the thunderstorm locations relative to your aircraft. is a passive system so there is no transmitter WX-950 and no harmful transmissions.

  • Page 12: Display/Processor

    Major Components Chapter 1 – System Description Display/Processor The display/processor mounts into any standard -inch cutout in the aircraft instrument panel. The display/proces- sor houses two main functional components: a high resolu- tion, raster scan display with a dedicated graphics control- ler, and two powerful processors on which the tormscope software runs.

  • Page 13: Wx-950 Functional Diagram

    Functional Description Chapter 1 – System Description Electromagnetic Signals Radiating from Atmospheric Electrical Discharges Associated with Thunderstorms WX-950 Discharge Heading Signals Input Antenna Test Strike Antenna Heading Control Power Valid ±12 V dc Rate CELL Input MENU 200nm Display/ Processor External Comm Power...

  • Page 14: Strike Display Mode

    Functional Description Chapter 1 – System Description display mode during these periods allows the pilot to quickly see where the cells are without having to sift through and analyze a screen full of discharge points. Strike Display Mode In the strike display mode, the immediately plots an WX-950 “x”...
  • Page 15 Features Chapter 1 – System Description • Heading stabilization – automatically repositions discharge points on the display relative to the latest aircraft heading when connected to a compatible heading system • Local and remote clear – allows operator to clear displayed discharge points using a button on the front of the WX-950 or from a remotely-mounted “clear screen”...

  • Page 17: Chapter 2, Storm Mapping Principles

    C h a p t e r 2 Storm Mapping Principles Anatomy of a Thunderstorm is intended to help pilots avoid the dangers WX-950 associated with thunderstorms (convective wind shear, lightning, icing, tornadoes, etc.). The locates WX-950 thunderstorms by detecting the electrical discharges that thunderstorms always generate.
  • Page 18 Anatomy of a Thunderstorm Chapter 2 – Storm Mapping Principles b.The friction between the opposing air currents causes electrical charges in the area to separate. As positive (+) and negative (–) electrical charges are separated, they accumulate in masses of similar charges (positive charges near the top of the cloud and negative charges near the bottom).

  • Page 19: Stages Of A Thunderstorm

    Stages of a Thunderstorm Chapter 2 – Storm Mapping Principles tive wind shear turbulence present. In fact, as convective wind shear increases, the rate of electrical discharges increases at an increasing rate. This relationship means that if you find the electrical discharges, you’ve found the wind shear.

  • Page 20: Storm Mapping Technology

    Storm Mapping Technology Chapter 2 – Storm Mapping Principles Storm Mapping Technology The WX-950 & Weather Radar The storm mapping technology used in the WX-950 fundamentally different than the technology used in weather radar. Weather radar operates by transmitting radio waves in the direction of interest and then receiving echoes from water droplets, whereas the operates by...
  • Page 21 Storm Mapping Technology Chapter 2 – Storm Mapping Principles In the ° view, the can store and display WX-950 discharge points within the selected range. In the ° view, can store and display discharge points within WX-950 the selected range. When the number of electrical discharges exceeds the maximum displayable capacity in a given view within a -minute interval, the oldest discharge point in...

  • Page 23: Chapter 3, Operation

    C h a p t e r 3 Operation Introduction This chapter describes the ’s controls and screen elements, WX-950 and lists the operating instructions and error messages. Controls & Screen Elements Figure and the following paragraphs describe the ’s controls and major screen elements. Power/ Discharge Brightness...
  • Page 24 Controls & Screen Elements Chapter 3 – Operation this knob counterclockwise decreases the brightness of the display and turns off the when the WX-950 knob reaches its fully counterclockwise position. Outer Range Ring The outer range ring identifies the outer boundary of the current range.
  • Page 25 Controls & Screen Elements Chapter 3 – Operation the outer range ring. The possibilities are nmi. 50, 100, Heading Flag Indicator The heading flag F L G indicator appears if the detects a WX-950 heading invalid flag from the aircraft naviga- tional system while heading stabilization is enabled on the .

  • Page 26: Turn On The Wx-950

    Turn on the WX-950 Chapter 3 – Operation Display Mode Indicator This C E L L indicator reports the current wx (weather) display mode ( ). Weather CELL STRIKE S T R I K E is defined as electrical activity. The indicator is present on both the °...

  • Page 27: Adjust The Screen Brightness

    Adjust the Screen Brightness Chapter 3 – Operation If the detects no faults, the screen WX-950 SELF-TEST (figure ) displays the message . After ALL TESTS PASSED a few seconds, the display switches to the ° weather view screen (figure ) set at the nmi range.

  • Page 28: Switch To The Menu Screen

    Switch to the MENU Screen Chapter 3 – Operation Switch to the MENU Screen 1. From either of the two weather views (360° or 120°) press the MENU button. (See figure 3-1.) The display switches to the screen (figure ) with MENU the first menu item, eather...

  • Page 29: Method A

    Switch Between Weather Views Chapter 3 – Operation Method A 1. On the MENU screen, scroll through the menu items until the menu item Weather View is highlighted. (See figure 3-5.) 2. Press the 360° button to switch to the 360° weather view screen or press the 120°...

  • Page 30: Switch Between Weather Views

    Switch Between Weather Views Chapter 3 – Operation Switch Between Weather Views The sequence of physical buttons to push to switch between the two weather views is the same whether you start from ° view or the ° view; only the button labels are different.

  • Page 31: Clear All Discharge Points

    Clear All Discharge Points Chapter 3 – Operation changes to display the numerical value of the new range , or nmi). This new range corresponds to the distance from the aircraft to the outer range ring on the screen. Pressing the up arrow button in the nmi range changes the range to nmi.

  • Page 32: Switch Between Wx Display Modes

    Switch Between WX Display Modes Chapter 3 – Operation Switch Between WX Display Modes isplay menu item selection determines how the WX D displays electrical activity on both the ° and ° WX-950 weather views. ( stands for weather and is defined as electrical activity.) 1.

  • Page 33: Run The Operator-Initiated Self Test

    Run the Operator-Initiated Self Test Chapter 3 – Operation Run the Operator-Initiated Self Test 1. Switch to the MENU screen. 2. Scroll through the menu items until the Self Test menu item is highlighted (figure 3-8). The current self test status is listed to the right of the highlighted menu item.

  • Page 34: Toggle Heading Stabilization On And Off

    Toggle Heading Stabilization Chapter 3 – Operation Toggle Heading Stabilization On and Off The heading stabilization feature automatically adjusts the position of the discharge points on the display when your aircraft changes heading. Normally, if the WX-950 installed to use the heading stabilization feature, you should never have to turn heading stabilization off;...

  • Page 35: Turn Off The Wx-950

    Error Messages Chapter 3 – Operation The current state of the heading stabilization feature (listed to the right of the highlighted menu item) toggles between with each press of the button labeled . If is displayed, the button has no label and pressing it has no effect.

  • Page 36: Error Message For A Recoverable Weather Fault

    Error Messages Chapter 3 – Operation ERROR 16 Antenna Fault Weather Mapping is Inhibited Press any key to continue Figure 3-11. Error Message for a Recoverable Weather Fault Table 3-1. Error Messages Error Message Fault Source Type* Recommended Action Error 01 Main processor Turn off the unit and see your Processor Fault...
  • Page 37 Error Messages Chapter 3 – Operation Table 3-1. Error Messages (Continued) Error Message Fault Source Type* Recommended Action Error 18 Invalid test strike NF/R Press any button to continue Processor Fault without weather mapping functions. See your dealer for service if this error occurs frequently.

  • Page 38: Recoverable Faults

    Error Messages Chapter 3 – Operation Table 3-1. Error Messages (Continued) Error Message Fault Source Type* Recommended Action Error 38 Invalid heading NF/NR Press any button to continue Invalid configuration. without heading stabilization. Configuration Stepper & XYZ See your dealer for service. selected.

  • Page 39: Non-Recoverable Faults

    Error Messages Chapter 3 – Operation with the message, but due to the fault condition, the points may not be valid. Heading-Related Faults After you clear a heading fault error message (figure 3-13 “ ” appears continuously in reverse video above the button label on both weather views as long as the MENU fault condition exists.

  • Page 40: Fatal Faults

    Error Messages Chapter 3 – Operation operation until the system is turned off and repaired. In the case of error , invalid configuration, you can press a button to clear the associated error message, but heading stabilization will not be available until the heading configu- ration jumpers are corrected.

  • Page 41: Chapter 4, Weather Display Interpretation

    C h a p t e r 4 Weather Display Interpretation Never use your tormscope system to attempt to penetrate a WARNING thunderstorm. The dvisory ircular, ubject: hunder- FAA A storms, and the irman’s nformation anual ( ) recom- mend that you “avoid by at least miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo.”...

  • Page 42: Radial Spread

    Radial Spread Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation square in the grid represents a nmi area. A circle represents the area monitored by your . Areas of gray WX-950 or black indicate thunderstorms. The darker the area, the greater the rate of electrical discharge activity. detects electrical discharges and displays them WX-950 as storm cells or as independent strikes.

  • Page 43: Typical Patterns

    Typical Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Typical Patterns Three Clusters within the 200 nmi Range Ring Figure shows the ° weather view at the nmi range. Using this knowledge, the outer range ring, and the azimuth markers, the three clusters of discharge points on the left- hand screen (cell display mode) can be interpreted as representing three thunderstorm cells at the following azimuth and range:...

  • Page 44: Range Changed To 100 Nmi

    Typical Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation ever must be avoided because you can’t necessarily deter- mine the severity of thunderstorms based strictly on the number of discharge points. For example, in the western nited tates, a severe thunderstorm may only have a few electrical discharges.

  • Page 45: Two Clusters Within The 200 Nmi Range Ring

    Typical Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Two Clusters within the 200 nmi Range Ring Figure shows the screen in the ° weather view at the nmi range. Using this knowledge, the outer range ring, and the azimuth markers, the two clusters of discharge points on the screen can be interpreted as one thunderstorm cell at , about...

  • Page 46: Mapping Headings Past Thunderstorms

    Mapping Past Storms Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Mapping Headings Past Thunderstorms Figures through and the following paragraphs show the progression of an aircraft past several thunderstorms. Range Set at 200 nmi Figure shows the ° weather view at the nmi range.

  • Page 47: Aircraft Progresses 100 Nmi

    Mapping Past Storms Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Aircraft Progresses 100 nmi Figure shows that the aircraft has maintained its heading and progressed nmi. The two thunderstorms off the nose of the aircraft appear to have expanded horizontally on the screen.

  • Page 48: Range Changes To 100 Nmi

    Mapping Past Storms Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Range Changes to 100 nmi Figure shows the screen a short time later in the ° weather view at the nmi range. The thunderstorms at are not visible in this view but the thunderstorms off 8:30 the nose of the aircraft appear in greater detail as two separate thunderstorms (at...

  • Page 49: Aircraft Turns To Avoid Thunderstorms

    Mapping Past Storms Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Aircraft Turns to Avoid Thunderstorms Figure shows the screen a short time later after the aircraft has turned to the right to avoid the thunderstorms. When connected to a compatible heading system, the automatically rotates the discharge points to their correct position relative to the new heading.

  • Page 50: Special Patterns

    Special Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Special Patterns Randomly Scattered Discharge Points Atmospheric instability associated with cumulus clouds, or developing or dissipating thunderstorms could cause randomly scattered discharge points as shown in figure Random discharge points are more likely to appear in the strike display mode than in the cell display mode due to the cell display mode’s clustering algorithm.
  • Page 51 Special Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Rate Rate CELL STRIKE MENU MENU 25nm 25nm Figure 4-10. Cluster & Splattering Within 25 nmi Continue to head away from the main cluster. While the main cluster should be your primary concern, you should also avoid any groups of discharge points within the range.

  • Page 52: Discharge Points Off Aircraft's Nose

    Special Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Discharge Points Off Aircraft’s Nose Figure shows the ° weather view at the 4-11 range. The discharge points ahead of the aircraft could be caused by a strong thunderstorm just beyond the range.

  • Page 53: Line Of Discharge Points While Taxiing

    Special Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Line of Discharge Points While Taxiing Passing over a cable beneath the taxiway can cause a line of discharge points across the screen as shown in figure 4-12 Similar concentrations of discharge points across the screen may appear while taxiing due to electrical signals from nearby equipment such as arc welders or subway rails.

  • Page 54: Developing Cluster Within The 25 Nmi Range Ring

    Special Patterns Chapter 4 – Weather Display Interpretation Developing Cluster Within the 25 nmi Range Ring Figure shows a developing thunderstorm nmi from 4-13 the aircraft. If you see a screen such as this with a developing cluster within the nmi range ring, you should change course to avoid the storm and continue to monitor the Stormscope screen.

  • Page 55: Chapter 5, Specifications

    C h a p t e r 5 Specifications Table 5-1. WX-950 System Specifications* Part Number Definition: System: 830-10950-001 – Black Bezel, White Antenna 830-10950-002 – Gray Bezel, White Antenna 830-10950-003 – Black Bezel, Black Antenna 830-10950-004 – Gray Bezel, Black Antenna Display/Processor: 805-10950-001 –...
  • Page 56 System Specifications Chapter 5 – Specifications Table 5-1. WX-950 System Specifications* (Continued) Size: Display/Processor (a standard 3ATI instrument): 3.37 in (8.56 cm) high 3.37 in (8.56 cm) wide 11.46 in (29.11 cm) deep, including connector backshell Antenna: 1.00 in (2.54 cm) high 3.45 in (8.76 cm) wide 6.85 in (17.40 cm) long Weight:...
  • Page 57 Notes...
  • Page 58 Notes...
  • Page 59 Record of Important Information Dealer Information Name _________________________________________ Address ________________________________________ City, State, Zip __________________________________ Telephone ______________________________________ Equipment Information Date of Purchase _________________________________ Installation Date _________________________________ Display/Processor: Model Number _______________________________ Part Number ________________________________ Serial Number _______________________________ Mod Letter __________________________________ Firmware Version _____________________________ Antenna: Model Number _______________________________ Part Number ________________________________...
  • Page 60 009-10951-001 (Rev. B, 6/08/04) L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, Inc. Stormscope ® WX-950 5353 52nd Street, S.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49512 USA (800)253-9525 www.L-3com.com/as...

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