L3 comminications Stormscope II Series, Pilot'S Manual

Page 1: ... Series II Weather Mapping System Pilot s Guide for the Model WX 1000 Stormscope Series II Weather Mapping System Pilot s Guide for the Model WX 1000 Stormscope ...

Page 2: ...stems Fly with Greater Confidence You now own one of the leading instruments in the world for airborne detection and mapping of thunderstorms Unlike any other product your new Stormscope system will enable you to make better informed thunderstorm avoidance decisions so you can fly more safely and with greater confidence than ever before Convenient Features The advanced patented technology in your ...

Page 3: ... other contractual support or rela tionshipwhatsoeverhasexistedwhichinanywayaffectsormitigatesproprietaryrightsofL 3Commu nications Avionics Systems Inc in these developments Methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be subject to U S Patents existing or applied for L 3 Communications Avionics Systems Inc reserves therighttoadd improve modify orwithdrawfunctions designmodifications orproductsatan...

Page 4: ...erstorm The FAA Advisory Circular Subject Thunder storms and the Airman s Information Manual AIM recom mend that you avoid by at least 20 miles any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo Even a single discharge point may represent thunderstorm activity and should be avoided page4 1 page4 1 WARNING CAUTION A Stormscope WX 1000 Pilot s Guide ii ...

Page 5: ...E of the pilot s guide makes the following changes Move export statement to back page Corrects minor typographical errors Revision D of the pilot s guide made the following changes Changes occurrences of Goodrich Avionics Systems to L 3 Communications Avionics Systems Inc or just L 3 Avionics Systems and makes related company contact information changes On March 28 2003 Goodrich Corporation sold i...

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Page 7: ...rm MappingTechnology 2 4 Chapter 3 Operation 3 1 Introduction 3 1 Controls Screen Elements 3 1 TurnOntheWX 1000 3 3 Adjust the Screen Brightness 3 4 Switch to a Weather View 3 5 Select the Range 3 5 Clear All Discharge Points 3 6 Check the Status of the Continuous Self Test 3 7 Run the Operator Initiated Self Test 3 7 Use the Checklist Feature 3 8 Set the Date andTime 3 11 Time an Event 3 11 Measu...

Page 8: ...ding Stabilization Option A 1 Applicable Models A 1 General Description A 1 Heading Options A 2 Heading Error Message A 3 Appendix B Navaid Option B 1 Applicable Models B 1 General Description B 1 Main Menu B 3 Navaid Setup Screen B 3 Data Comm Errors B 6 Warning Message B 6 NAV FLAG B 6 Appendix C EFIS Option C 1 Applicable Models C 1 General Description C 1 EFIS Thunderstorm Symbology C 1 Storms...

Page 9: ...et Sample 3 8 3 9 CHECKLIST MENU Screen 3 9 3 10 A Checklist Screen 3 10 3 11 Skipped Item 3 10 3 12 Skipped Items 3 10 3 13 TIME DATE Screen 3 11 3 14 Error 01 3 13 3 15 Error 44 3 14 3 16 Error 46 3 15 3 17 Mic Key Stuck 3 15 4 1 Airspace Diagram 4 1 4 2 Three Clusters Within 200 nmi 4 3 4 3 Range Changed to 100 nmi 4 3 4 4 Two Clusters Within 200 nmi 4 3 4 5 Range Set at 200 nmi 4 5 4 6 Aircraf...

Page 10: ... 4 14 Split Image Off Nose of Aircraft 4 8 A 1 Heading Display at Top of Screen A 2 A 2 Heading Flag at Top of Screen A 2 A 3 OPTIONS Screen With Heading Stabilization A 3 A 4 Error 11 A 3 B 1 Typical Weather View Screen With the Navaid Option B 2 B 2 MAIN MENU w Navaid B 3 B 3 OPTIONS Screen w Navaid B 3 B 4 Navaid Setup Screen B 3 B 5 Error 13 B 6 B 6 Warning Messages B 6 B 7 NAV FLAG B 6 Figure...

Page 11: ...X 1000 figure 1 1 detects electrical discharges from thunderstorms up to 200 nautical miles away and displays the thunderstorm locations relative to your aircraft The WX 1000 also provides checklists and timing functions Figure 1 1 WX 1000 Major Components Processor Antenna Display System Description C h a p t e r 1 ...

Page 12: ...understorms The antenna is available in black or white Display The display figures 1 2 and 1 3 is a self contained 3 ATI sized unit with a high resolution green monochrome Cathode Ray Tube CRT display The bezel contains four momentary contact push button switches and an on off brightness knob The display provides control and display functions for the processor The display s bezel is available in b...

Page 13: ... Strike Control Heading Input Navaid Input Optional Display Output to EFIS Processor Fault Line to EFIS 15 V dc 12 V dc External Clear Input Comm Mic Inhibit MENU CLEAR 120 25 200 nm BRT OFF Display Stormscope Model WX 1000 Power Input 11 32 V dc Heading Valid Input Electromagnetic Signals Radiating from Atmospheric Electrical Discharges Associated with Thunderstorms Processor Antenna Figure 1 4 W...

Page 14: ...ring algorithm is to display the location of storm cells instead of individual discharges This cell display mode is most useful during periods of heavy electrical discharge activity and frees the pilot from sifting through a screen full of discharge points to determine exactly where the storm cells are located Model Definitions This guide covers all variations of the WX 1000 model as listed below ...

Page 15: ... any given time inside the processor Determining the Unit s Model Number Options You can determine your unit s detailed model number and installed options by getting the part number from the tag on the back of the processor and looking up the corresponding part number definition in table 5 1 If you don t have easy access to the rear of the processor you can determine the general model number and i...

Page 16: ...processing when the communications transmitter is keyed to prevent the processing of corrupted data some aircraft need to use this feature others don t Power brightness control allows operator to adjust the CRT brightness and to turn the WX 1000 on and off Four buttons these function keys perform various functions depending on what mode the WX 1000 is in and what screen is being displayed This var...

Page 17: ...storms create electrical discharges and radiate electromagnetic signals a The convective flow of air currents warm air going up and cold air going down leads to friction between the opposing air currents and wind shear in the space between the opposing air currents The closer together the opposing air currents are the greater the shearing force of the air currents Warm Air Mass Cold Air Mass Warm ...

Page 18: ...Only a small percent age of discharges occurs between the clouds and the ground Cloud to ground lightning occurs when the negatively charged lower part of a cloud induces a positive charge on an object on the ground The immense charge separation finally breaks down the insulating air and a discharge occurs dumping negative charge from the cloud onto the object and the sur rounding ground d All ele...

Page 19: ...in as little as 20 minutes Cumulus Stage The cumulus or beginning stage of a thunderstorm is usually precipitation free In this stage the risks to an aircraft and its occupants include strong vertical winds severe turbu lence icing and convective wind shear Mature Stage In the mature and most intense stage of a thunderstorm the water droplets within the cloud collide and combine to form rain and h...

Page 20: ...owever it generally does contain electrical discharges which will appear on your WX 1000 display as a light but increasing cluster of discharge points Another disadvantage of weather radar is that due to attenu ation it may not see the storm behind the storm or may understate its intensity Your WX 1000 is not subject to attenuation With the WX 1000 electrical discharges are mapped throughout the s...

Page 21: ...y in a given view within a 2 minute interval the oldest discharge point in memory and on the screen in that view is erased and replaced with the newest discharge point This process continues to replace old discharge points with new ones to make sure that discharge points on the screen represent the most recent electrical discharges In a typical thunderstorm all the points on the screen may be repl...

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Page 23: ...ols Screen Elements Figure 3 1 and the following paragraphs describe the WX 1000 s controls and major screen elements The WX 1000 also provides connections for a remote switch that clears dis charge points from the screen Figure 3 1 Controls Screen Elements MENU CLEAR 120 25 200 nm BRT OFF Outer Range Ring Power Brightness Control Azimuth Marker Discharge Point Own Aircraft Inner Range Ring 25nmi ...

Page 24: ...he display Rotating this knob counterclockwise decreases the brightness of the display and turns off the WX 1000 when the knob reaches its fully counterclockwise position 25 nmi Range Ring This solid ring is displayed on every range of both weather views to keep you informed of any thunderstorm activity within a 25 nmi radius of your aircraft Display Range Indicator This button label indicator dis...

Page 25: ...al range or view Azimuth Markers The azimuth markers help to quantify the angular location of electri cal discharges relative to the aircraft In the 360 view 9 short radial markers are spaced 30 apart around the outside of the outer range ring In the 120 view 4 azimuth markers radiate out from the aircraft symbol at 30 and 60 on either side of the aircraft heading Turn On the WX 1000 1 Rotate the ...

Page 26: ...ts power up self test before the CRT comes on In this case it is possible that the first screen you see will be the MAIN MENU screen or an error message resulting from the self test Adjust the Screen Brightness 1 Rotate the OFF BRT knob clockwise to increase the bright ness of the display or counterclockwise to decrease the brightness of the display Adjust the Screen Brightness SELF TEST WX 1000 S...

Page 27: ...tail Select the Range 1 Switch to one of the two weather views figures 3 5 and 3 6 2 Press the button next to the on screen range indicator the lower right button repeatedly to step through the operating ranges 200 100 50 and 25 nmi With each press of the range button the screen changes to display the electrical discharge activity detected within the new range The range indicator will also change ...

Page 28: ...urrent heading If you have the heading stabilization option installed and turned on on the OPTIONS screen you do not have to press the CLEAR button after every heading change See appendix A for more information on the heading stabiliza tion option Clearing the discharge points periodically while you re monitoring thunderstorms is also a good way to determine if the storm is building or dissipating...

Page 29: ...ly if necessary until Options is highlighted 3 Press the GO button to view the OPTIONS screen figure 3 7 The Continuous Test item is listed as OK or FAULT Run the Operator Initiated Self Test The operator initiated self test is more extensive than the continuous self test and is recommended to verify proper operation of the WX 1000 whenever thunderstorm activity is displayed 1 Press the MENU butto...

Page 30: ...the OPTIONS screen Use the Checklist Feature Before you can use the checklist feature you must fill out checklist worksheets figure 3 8 then ask your Stormscope dealer to enter the checklists into your WX 1000 using specialized equipment Keep a copy of the worksheets in your aircraft at all times Any time you want to change your checklists have your dealer enter the changes WX 1000 1000 Checklist ...

Page 31: ... in memory so that if you exit checklist mode and come back later you can continue where you left off To Use the Checklist Feature 1 Press the MENU button to go to the MAIN MENU screen figure 3 4 2 Press the NEXT button repeatedly if necessary until the Checklists item is highlighted 3 Press the GO button to view the CHECKLIST MENU screen figure 3 9 4 Press the NEXT button repeatedly if necessary ...

Page 32: ...ip the selected checklist item without checking it off the list press the SKIP button The list scrolls up so that the next item is highlighted and a large dot appears next to the skipped item figure 3 11 All skipped unchecked items appear again at the bottom of the checklist figure 3 12 BEFORE LANDING MENU CHECK BETA LITES CHECK ON BACKUP SKIP FUEL CROSSFEED OFF APPROACH SPD 99 KIAS END OF CHECKLI...

Page 33: ...E screen figure 3 13 4 Press the NEXT button repeatedly until the day field is highlighted 5 Press the UP or DOWN button repeatedly to step the day field to the proper day 6 Repeat steps 4 5 to set the month year time Time an Event The stopwatch feature allows you to time an event If power is interrupted to the WX 1000 the stopwatch resets to 00 00 00 1 Press the MENU button to go to the MAIN MENU...

Page 34: ... has been turned on 1 Press the MENU button to go to the MAIN MENU screen figure 3 4 2 Press the NEXT button repeatedly if necessary until the Time Date item is highlighted 3 Press the GO button to view the TIME DATE screen figure 3 13 4 Press the NEXT button to highlight the Elapsed Time digits 5 Press the START button to start measuring the elapsed time 6 Press the STOP button to stop measuring ...

Page 35: ...screen that was displayed before the error message appeared and permits operation of the remaining functions If you get an error message that won t go away after cycling the power off and on write down the error message and call L 3 Avionics Systems customer service 1 800 453 0288 or your authorized Stormscope dealer for service The following paragraphs provide a few examples of possible error mes...

Page 36: ...ar power lines or GPU cart As you move away from these interfer ence sources the weather mapping functions should automatically recover In general when these messages occur intermittently they are usually caused by some outside interference Action Turn off different aircraft systems to try to isolate any source of noise that may be causing the error or press any button to continue operation withou...

Page 37: ...a and call for service MIC KEY STUCK Weather mapping is inhibited figure 3 17 Meaning The microphone key may have been depressed for more than 1 minute and is inhibiting the processing and displaying of thunderstorm data but it s more likely that there s a problem with the processor Action Check your microphone key to see if it s stuck If that s not the problem press any button to continue without...

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Page 39: ...be avoided Introduction The examples in this chapter are designed to help you relate the patterns of s on your Stormscope screen to the size and location of thunderstorms that may be near your aircraft A blue and white grid in the examples represents the airspace around your aircraft See figure 4 1 Each square in the grid represents a 100 by 100 nmi area A circle represents the area 100 nmi Heavy ...

Page 40: ...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 United States a severe thunderstorm may only have a few electrical discharges When the range is changed to 100 nmi figure 4 3 only cluster 2 remains visible Clusters 1 and 3 are beyond the 100 nmi range and therefore no longer appea...

Page 41: ...Display Interpretation 1 2 3 MENU CLEAR 120 25 200 nm BRT OFF MENU 25 120 100 nm CLEAR BRT OFF Figure 4 2 Three Clusters Within 200 nmi Figure 4 3 Range Changed to 100 nmi MENU CLEAR 120 25 200 nm BRT OFF Figure 4 4 Two Clusters Within 200 nmi Typical Patterns ...

Page 42: ...r to have expanded horizontally on the screen This effect is normal anytime you get closer to a storm The line of thunderstorms previously at 9 30 now appears at 8 30 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 ...

Page 43: ...0 120 nm 25 BRT OFF MENU CLEAR 120 25 200 nm BRT OFF 360 MENU CLEAR 100 nm BRT OFF 25 MENU CLEAR 25 360 100 nm BRT OFF Figure 4 7 Range Changes to 100 nmi Figure 4 8 Aircraft Turns to Avoid Thunderstorms Figure 4 5 Range Set at 200 nmi Figure 4 6 Aircraft Progresses 100 nmi Mapping Around Storms ...

Page 44: ...ure 4 10 shows the 360 weather view at the 25 nmi range One moderately active thunderstorm appears as a cluster of discharge points at 8 30 centered 14 nmi away with a splat tering of discharge points throughout the 25 nmi range Such splattering is due to electrical discharges within 3 to 5 nmi of the aircraft and indicates that the aircraft is too close to the thunderstorm While the main cluster ...

Page 45: ...gure 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 1000 range In either case no immediate action is required Line of Discharge Points While Taxiing Pa...

Page 46: ...ith a developing cluster within the 25 nmi range ring you should change course to avoid the storm and continue to monitor the screen Split Image Off Nose of Aircraft A strong thunderstorm at 50 75 nmi away or a weak thun derstorm 5 25 nmi away could cause the display shown in figure 4 14 Observe the splitting activity The strong thunderstorm tends to split much faster Press the CLEAR button and mo...

Page 47: ...429 EFIS RX high TX low 805 11001 002 WX 1000E 429 EFIS RX high TX high 805 11001 003 WX 1000E 429 EFIS RX low TX low 805 11001 004 WX 1000E 429 EFIS RX low TX high Size 3 38 in 8 59 cm high 4 88 in 12 40 cm wide 12 62 in 32 05 cm deep Weight 6 5 lb 3 0 kg 6 9 lb 3 2 kg with navaid or EFIS option Mounting tray adds 0 7 lb 0 3 kg Power Input Requirements 10 5 to 32 V dc 28 W Operating Temperature 5...

Page 48: ...r Specifications Table 5 1 WX 1000 Processor Specifications Continued Specifications subject to change without notice Operating Altitude 55 000 ft maximum TSO Compliance C110a RTCA Compliance Environmental DO 160B F2 BA BMNO XXXXXXZ AB A AZ ZZZXXX Software DO 178A Level 2 ...

Page 49: ...3 37 in 8 56 cm wide 8 24 in 20 92 cm deep Weight 2 5 0 2 lb 1 1 0 1 kg Power Input Requirements 15 15 V dc 0 7 A maximum Operating Temperature 20 to 55 C 4 to 131 F Storage Temperature 55 to 70 C 67 to 158 F Operating Altitude 55 000 ft maximum TSO Compliance FAA C110a C113 JTSO C113 RTCA Compliance DO 160C F1 CA NBM XXXXXXZXXXZUAXXXXXX Display Specifications Specifications subject to change with...

Page 50: ... Black Size 1 13 in 2 87 cm high 4 49 in 11 40 cm wide 10 06 in 25 60 cm deep Weight 1 9 lb 0 86 kg Operating Temperature 55 to 70 C 67 to 158 F Storage Temperature 55 to 70 C 67 to 158 F Operating Altitude 55 000 ft maximum TSO Compliance C110a RTCA Compliance DO 160B F2 BACXXXXXXXXXXZZZXXX Antenna Specifications Specifications subject to change without notice ...

Page 51: ... heading stabilization option automatically repositions discharge points relative to the latest aircraft heading eliminating the need to clear the display after each heading change The heading stabilization option also includes the following features The current numeric heading figure A 1 is displayed in a box at the top of the 360 and 120 weather view screens A FLAG message figure A 2 is displaye...

Page 52: ...ng stabilization feature To Turn Heading Stabilization Off or On 1 Press the MENU button to go to the main menu 2 Press the NEXT button repeatedly if necessary until Options is highlighted 3 Press the GO button to view the OPTIONS screen 4 Press the NEXT button repeatedly if necessary until the HDG Stabilization ON OFF field is highlighted 5 Press the ON OFF button If HDG Stabilization was set to ...

Page 53: ...r 11 figure A 4 and Error 10 are specific to Stormscope models with heading stabilization installed using an XYZ heading source These errors mean that there may be an error in the processing of heading or that there is a malfunc tion of the aircraft s compass system If you get an Error 11 or 10 turn the WX 1000 off then back on If the error reappears press any button to continue without heading in...

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Page 55: ...lified loran or GPS receiver directly on the Stormscope system s weather view screens See figure B 1 Specifically the navaid option includes the following features Displays flight plan courselines and waypoints when used with the appropriate loran or GPS receivers or an FMS Displays your heading stabilized courseline and selected waypoints Displays a graphical course deviation indicator CDI with 5...

Page 56: ... waypoints that can be displayed depends on the Stormscope software version and the data input format For software version 3 23 or higher the navaid option can display up to the first 32 waypoints for flight plan data input in the King KLN XX RS 232 422 data format and up to the first 10 waypoints for flight plan data input in a non King format For software versions lower than 3 23 the navaid opti...

Page 57: ...avaid option adds the Navaid Setup item to the OPTIONS screen figure B 3 Choosing the Navaid Setup item brings up the Navaid Setup screen figure B 4 The Navaid Setup screen allows you to change which six navaid data items are selected to be displayed on the weather view screens and where on the screen they are to be dis OPTIONS Continuous Test OK HDG Stabilization ON Heading Display ON MENU GO NEX...

Page 58: ... selection are dependent upon the specific information provided by your loran or GPS receiver If an item on the grid is not available from your receiver that grid space will include an asterisk To Change the Six Navaid Data Items 1 Press the MENU button to go to the main menu 2 Press the NEXT button repeatedly if necessary until Options is highlighted Rng Range to Active Waypoint GS Ground Speed E...

Page 59: ...tem counterclockwise When you move a data item into a position that already has an item the new item temporarily displays in that position When you press the MOVE button again the previous data item reappears 9 To set the position of a highlighted data item press the SET button The highlighted data item is set into its current position and the highlighting box moves to the next data item in the gr...

Page 60: ...f a highlighted w will appear next to the affected data items See figure B 6 NAV FLAG If the loran or GPS receiver fails to acquire a consistent signal and is not certain of its position the high lighted message NAV FLAG appears See figure B 7 Naviga tional data will not be displayed if the receiver indicates a flag condi tion 25 360 MENU CLEAR 057 NAV FLAG 050 nm BRT OFF Figure B 7 NAV FLAG Commu...

Page 61: ...sed in place of the standard WX 1000 display or in addition to it Refer to your EFIS or RGC manuals for instructions on displaying Stormscope thunder storm data EFIS Thunderstorm Symbology The EFIS or RGC reads the Stormscope thunderstorm data and displays the intensity level of areas of detected lightning not individual electrical discharges Refer to your EFIS or RGC documentation for details on ...

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Page 63: ...er __________________________________ Software Version _____________________________ Antenna Model Number_______________________________ Part Number ________________________________ Serial Number _______________________________ Mod Letter __________________________________ Display Model Number_______________________________ Part Number ________________________________ Serial Number _______________...

Page 64: ...d Street S E Grand Rapids MI 49512 USA 800 253 9525 www L 3com com as Stormscope WX 1000 This data is provided at no charge or at cost to the public and is considered publicly available No License Required NLR as defined in the Export Administration Regulations EAR Part 734 7 11 ...