Summary of Contents for L3 Stormscope II Series
- Page 1 User’s Guide For the Stormscope ® Series II Weather Mapping Sensor Model WX-500 Aviation Products...
- Page 3 System Advantages ® Welcome L3 Aviation Products one of the world’s most experienced companies in airborne thunderstorm avoidance instruments, is pleased to welcome you to the family of tens of thousands of pilots who are enjoying the benefits of safer flight with a Stormscope weather ®...
- Page 4 L3 Aviation Products in these developments. Methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be subject to U.S. Patents existing or applied for. L3 Aviation Products reserves the right to add, improve, modify, or withdraw functions, design modifications, or products at any time without notice.
- Page 5 Document Precedence This User’s Guide provides general information about the operation of the WX-500 and the weather display. Refer to your FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and its flight manual supplements for information specific to your aircraft. If there is conflicting information between the AFM and this guide, the AFM takes precedence over this guide.
- Page 6 Important Notice All Stormscope WX-500 functions are controlled through various ® Multi-Function Displays (MFDs). The many capabilities of the WX- 500 allow MFD manufacturers to create screens compatible with the various functions of their display. The display screens illustrated in this guide are intended to be characteristic of a group of MFDs that are configured to work with the WX-500.
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Page 7: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Section Page List of Illustrations ..................vi List of Tables ....................vi Chapter 1, System Description General Description ..................1-1 Processor ....................1-2 Antenna ......................1-2 Functional Description ................1-2 Cell Data .....................1-3 Strike Data ....................1-3 Strike Rate ....................1-3 Features . - Page 8 List of Illustrations Figure Title Page 1-1 WX-500 Major Components ..............1-1 1-2 WX-500 Functional Diagram ..............1-2 2-1 Electrical Discharges in Thunderstorms ..........2-1 2-2 Discharge Rate a Function of Wind Shear ...........2-2 4-1 Airspace Diagram .................4-1 4-2 Three Clusters Within 200 nmi ............4-3 4-3 Range Changed to 100 nmi ..............
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Page 9: Chapter 1, System Description
CHAPTER 1 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Stormscope Series II Weather Mapping Sensor, model WX-500 ® (figure 1-1) detects electrical discharges from thunderstorms within a 200 nmi radius of the aircraft. This information is then sent to an external Multi-Function Display (MFD) that plots the location of the thunderstorms. -
Page 10: Processor
Major Components Chapter 1 - System Description PROCESSOR This compact, tray-mounted computer processor receives electrical discharge information from the antenna, processes it to determine range and azimuth, processes the heading input, then forwards the information for presentation on the MFD. The processor may be installed almost anywhere in the aircraft. -
Page 11: Cell Data
Chapter 1 - System Description 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 nmi radius of the aircraft and sends the resulting “discharge signals” to the processor. The processor digitizes, analyzes, and converts the discharge signals into range and bearing data then stores the data in memory. -
Page 12: Features
Features Chapter 1 - System Description FEATURES Detects and plots intra-cloud, inter-cloud, and cloud-to ground electrical discharges • Operates passively requiring no transmitter • Allows total control through the MFD • Detects discharges up to 200 nmi away • Outputs cell and strike data to the MFD •... -
Page 13: Chapter 2, Storm Mapping Principles
CHAPTER 2 STORM MAPPING PRINCIPLES ANATOMY OF A THUNDERSTORM The WX-500 is intended to help pilots avoid the dangers associated with thunderstorms (convective wind shear, lightning, icing, tornadoes, etc.). The WX-500 locates thunderstorms by detecting the electrical discharges that thunderstorms always generate. Figure 2-1 shows how thunderstorms create electrical discharges and radiate electromagnetic signals. - Page 14 Anatomy of a Thunderstorm Chapter 2 - Storm Mapping Principles c. Electrical discharges occur as the accumulated masses of separated positive and negative charges attempt to rejoin. These discharges continue to occur repetitively as long as the convective wind shear persists. A few of the discharges are visible as lightning, but most electrical discharges occur within a cloud or between clouds and are hidden by those clouds.
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Page 15: Stages Of A Thunderstorm
Chapter 2 - Storm Mapping Principles Anatomy of a Thunderstorm STAGES OF A THUNDERSTORM All thunderstorms begin as cumulus clouds, build to an intense mature stage, and finally dissipate. Each of these stages in the life of a thunderstorm present a different set of dangers to aircraft. The WX-500 maps all stages in the life of a thunderstorm so that you won’t be caught unaware by a thunderstorm that can build, mature, and dissipate in as little as 20 minutes. -
Page 16: The Wx-500 & Weather Radar
Storm Mapping Technology Chapter 2 - Storm Mapping Principles THE WX-500 & WEATHER RADAR The storm mapping technology used in the WX-500 is fundamentally different than the technology used in weather radar. Weather radar operates by transmitting UHF radio waves in the direction of interest and then receiving echoes from water droplets, whereas the WX-500 operates by receiving signals already present in the atmosphere due to electrical discharges. -
Page 17: Chapter 3, Operation
CHAPTER 3 OPERATION INTRODUCTION The MFD controls the WX-500 functions. Refer to your Aircraft Flight Manual Supplement (AFMS) and the documentation supplied with the MFD for detailed operating instructions. This chapter provides supplemental information. The user should already be familiar with their AFMS and MFD. -
Page 18: Clear All Discharge Points
MFD indicating the nature of the faults and which functions may be inoperative. These error messages enable your authorized Stormscope dealer or L3 Aviation Products factory service personnel to quickly diagnose and correct the fault. Table 3-1 lists all the possible error messages, the probable causes, and the recommended actions. - Page 19 Chapter 3 - Operation Error Messages Table 3-1: Error Messages ERROR FAULT SOURCE TYPE* RECOMMENDED ACTION Error 01 Main processor Turn off the unit and see Processor Fault your dealer for service. Errors 05 thru 08 Main processor Turn off the unit and see Processor Fault memory your dealer for service.
- Page 20 Error Messages Chapter 3 - Operation Table 3-1: Error Messages (continued) ERROR FAULT SOURCE TYPE* RECOMMENDED ACTION Error 19 Main Processor NF/R Continue without weath- Processor Fault data overload er mapping functions. See your dealer for service if this error oc- curs frequently.
- Page 21 Chapter 3 - Operation Error Messages Table 3-1: Error Messages (continued) ERROR FAULT SOURCE TYPE* RECOMMENDED ACTION Error 41 DSP or main Turn off the unit and see Processor Fault processor your dealer for service. Error 42 Main processor Turn off the unit and see Processor Fault your dealer for service.
- Page 22 Error Messages Chapter 3 - Operation NONFATAL FAULTS If a nonfatal fault occurs, all functions not directly affected by the fault continue to operate. See your authorized Stormscope dealer as soon as possible to correct the fault. RECOVERABLE FAULTS A recoverable fault is one that allows the affected functions to automatically resume proper operation after the fault goes away.
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Page 23: Chapter 4, Weather Display Interpretation
CHAPTER 4 WEATHER DISPLAY INTERPRETATION Never use your Stormscope system to attempt to WARNING penetrate a thunderstorm. The FAA Advisory Circular, Subject: Thunderstorms, and the Airman’s Information Manual (AIM) recommend that you “avoid by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo.”... -
Page 24: Radial Spread
Discharge points in radial spread do not necessarily indicate the exact location of atmospheric electrical discharges. To counter- act radial spread, L3 Aviation Products applied its extensive research in lightning detection to develop enhanced lightning positioning algorithms. These algorithms (used only in the cell display mode) greatly reduce radial spread and improve the depiction of thunderstorms on the display. -
Page 25: Typical Patterns
Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation Typical Patterns TYPICAL PATTERNS THREE CLUSTERS WITHIN 200 NMI Figure 4-2 shows the 360° weather view at the 200 nmi range. Using this knowledge, 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: Cluster... - Page 26 Typical Patterns Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation The screen can also tell us about the relative amount of electrical discharge activity in thunderstorm cells. Clusters 2 and 3 have more discharge points than cluster 1 indicating greater electrical discharge activity. All three clusters however must be avoided because you can’t necessarily determine the severity of thunderstorms based strictly on the number of discharge points.
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Page 27: Two Clusters Within 200 Nmi
Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation Typical Patterns TWO CLUSTERS WITHIN 200 NMI Figure 4-4 illustrates the 360° weather view at the 200 nmi range. Using this knowledge, the two clusters of discharge points on the screen can be interpreted as one thunderstorm cell at 5:30, about 150 nmi from the aircraft, and another cell at 1:00, about 100 nmi from the aircraft. -
Page 28: Mapping Headings Past Thunderstorms
Mapping Past Storms Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation MAPPING HEADINGS PAST THUNDERSTORMS Figures 4-5 through 4-8 and the following paragraphs show the progression of an aircraft past several thunderstorms. RANGE SET AT 200 NMI Figure 4-5 shows the 360° weather view at the 200 nmi range. Two thunderstorms appear almost as one cluster of discharge points off the nose of the aircraft, centered 180 nmi away. -
Page 29: Aircraft Progresses 100 Nmi
Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation Mapping Past Storms AIRCRAFT PROGRESSES 100 NMI Figure 4-6 shows that the aircraft has maintained its heading and progressed 100 nmi. The two thunderstorms off the nose of the aircraft appear to have expanded horizontally on the screen. This effect is normal anytime you get close to a storm. -
Page 30: Range Changes To 100 Nmi
Mapping Past Storms Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation RANGE CHANGES TO 100 NMI Figure 4-7 shows the screen a short time later in the 120° weather view at the 100 nmi range. The thunderstorms at 8:30 are not visible in this view but the thunderstorms off the nose of the aircraft appear in greater detail as two separate thunderstorms (at 11:30 and 12:15 centered 90 nmi from the aircraft). -
Page 31: Aircraft Turns To Avoid Thunderstorms
Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation Mapping Past Storms AIRCRAFT TURNS TO AVOID THUNDERSTORMS Figure 4-8 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 WX- 500 automatically rotates new discharge points to their correct position relative to the new heading. -
Page 32: Randomly Scattered Discharge Points
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 4-9. 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 33 Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation Special Patterns Rate Rate CELL STRIKE 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 25 nmi range.
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Page 34: Discharge Points Off The Aircraft's Nose
Special Patterns Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation DISCHARGE POINTS OFF AIRCRAFT’S NOSE Figure 4-11 shows the 360° weather view at the 200 nmi range. The discharge points ahead of the aircraft could be caused by a strong thunderstorm just beyond the 200 nmi range. Another cause might be electrical discharge signals arriving via atmospheric skip from a distant thunderstorm well beyond the WX-500 range. -
Page 35: Line Of Discharge Points While Taxiing
Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation Special Patterns 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 36: Developing Cluster Within 25 Nmi
Special Patterns Chapter 4 - Weather Display Interpretation DEVELOPING CLUSTER WITHIN 25 NMI Figure 4-13 shows a developing thunderstorm 12 nmi from the aircraft. If you see a screen such as this with a developing cluster within 25 nmi, you should change course to avoid the storm and continue to monitor the Stormscope sensor information displayed on the MFD. - Page 37 CHAPTER 5 SPECIFICATIONS Table 5-1. WX-500 Specifications* Part Number Definition: 805-11500-001 – WX-500 processor 805-10930-001 – NY-163 antenna, white 805-10930-002 – NY-163 antenna, black Features: Cell or Strike mode 200 nmi range Built-in self tests Heading stabilization (Requires connection to a heading system) Microphone inhibit line Integrity indicator Size:...
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Page 38: Wx-500 Specifications
WX-500 Specifications Chapter 5 - Specifications Table 5-1. WX-500 Specifications* (continued) Size: Processor (includes mounting tray and pull handle): 5.6 in (14.22 cm) high 2.2 in (5.59 cm) wide 12.0 in (20.48 cm) deep Electrical Characteristics: Input voltage: 11 to 32 V dc Current: 0.82 A max @ 12 V dc 0.38 A max @ 28 V dc... - Page 39 To ensure that a new or repaired WX-500 meets the TSO, meets foreign government certification requirements, and meets L3 Aviation Products performance standards, your WX-500 must be installed and tested by an L3 Aviation Products authorized Stormscope dealer. Register this product online at: http://www.l3aviationproducts.com/warranty-registration/...
- Page 40 Aviation Products L3 Aviation Products 5353 52 Street, S.E. Grand Rapids, MI USA 49512-9704 Telephone (800) 453-6600 International (616) 949-6600 009-11501-001 Rev-D www.L3aviationproducts.com (March 9, 2017)