Approved Vendor
WSI Adds Global Lightning Capability To Pilotbrief Online™ Interactive Map
New global lightning overlay allows proactive, route-centric visualization of global weather
and hazards to flight operations
and hazards to flight operations
Andover, MA, October 5, 2008 - WSI Corporation (www.wsi.com), the most trusted weather decision support provider in the aviation industry, today announced the latest release of Pilotbrief Online™, featuring a new global lightning capability. The lightning data layer in Pilotbrief Online’s Interactive Map uses the Global Lightning Network®(GLN®), a source of high quality real-time lightning detection data for locations throughout the world. The Global Lightning Network is comprised of advanced lightning stroke detection sensors strategically located at international hosting partner sites. Data from the GLN has the timeliness, coverage, and delivery to support critical business operational requirements without compromising quality, accuracy, and efficiency in key deployment areas, including North and South America, Southeast Asia/Australia, and Europe. Lightning detection data is also available for oceanic and other continental regions.
The Global Lightning Network uses the same lightning sensor and processing technology that has been proven in the United States Precision Lightning Network™ (USPLN™). Recently, the coverage of the USPLN was expanded to the North American Precision Lightning NetworkSM (NAPLNSM), encompassing Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Like the USPLN and NAPLN, the GLN is a partnership of WSI and TOA Systems, a preeminent manufacturer of integrated lightning location and detection systems. WSI and TOA offer lightning data and services to the aviation, media, energy, consumer, and government markets, as well as to customers through a value-added reseller channel.
“WSI Pilotbrief Online enables the route-centric visualization of global weather and hazards in support of proactive aircraft operations management and control”, states Paul Hathaway, Director of Product Management. “The Interactive Map presentation of global lightning, our proprietary en route hazard forecasts, and international radar provide flight departments with global weather and route analysis capabilities that are unmatched, but which can be securely accessed from any internet browser.”
The current Pilotbrief Online release, launched in late September, has added radar for the Bahamas, Canada, Europe, and Australia, in addition to US NOWrad radar summary, flight plan filing and .PDF format route briefings.
“WSI Pilotbrief Online enables professional pilots to stay ahead of changing operational conditions and take positive action to reduce operational impacts”, states Mark D. Miller, VP and General Manager of WSI’s Aviation Business. “Access to these products, some of which until now have only been available to airlines, enables corporate pilots to plan a smooth operation globally. We have an exciting roadmap ahead which will leverage this New Interactive Map technology to deliver a comprehensive preflight planning solution across a wide array of platforms”.
WSI will be demonstrating Pilotbrief Online’s new global lightning product in Booth 4476 at the NBAA convention in Orlando, FL from October 6th to 8th. Data from the Global Lightning Network will be available as a regional or global Pilotbrief Online service plan in Q4.
About WSI Pilotbrief Online
WSI Pilotbrief Online is the FAA QICP certified part of the award-winning WSI Pilotbrief weather service suite, which is consistently voted #1 by professional pilots in reader surveys. Each day, thousands of aviation professionals trust the WSI Pilotbrief systems found at the nation’s top FBOs and corporate flight departments to provide the highest quality information and to plan safe flights. Pilotbrief Online provides direct access to WSI’s industry standard aviation products including WSI NOWrad® radar imagery, Radar Summary with Echo Tops, IR and Visible Satellite imagery as well as international radar. WSI also delivers critical aviation weather information such as public and proprietary PIREPs, SIGMETs, and AIRMETs, METARs, TAFs, and NOTAMs. WSI Pilotbrief Online also features WSI’s global SIGMET alerts and Flight Plan Guidance forecasts for turbulence, convection, icing, and volcanic ash. WSI Pilotbrief Online is one in a series of proactive operations management solutions offered by WSI that transform weather information into safer and more efficient flight and airport operations.
WSI Pilotbrief Online is the FAA QICP certified part of the award-winning WSI Pilotbrief weather service suite, which is consistently voted #1 by professional pilots in reader surveys. Each day, thousands of aviation professionals trust the WSI Pilotbrief systems found at the nation’s top FBOs and corporate flight departments to provide the highest quality information and to plan safe flights. Pilotbrief Online provides direct access to WSI’s industry standard aviation products including WSI NOWrad® radar imagery, Radar Summary with Echo Tops, IR and Visible Satellite imagery as well as international radar. WSI also delivers critical aviation weather information such as public and proprietary PIREPs, SIGMETs, and AIRMETs, METARs, TAFs, and NOTAMs. WSI Pilotbrief Online also features WSI’s global SIGMET alerts and Flight Plan Guidance forecasts for turbulence, convection, icing, and volcanic ash. WSI Pilotbrief Online is one in a series of proactive operations management solutions offered by WSI that transform weather information into safer and more efficient flight and airport operations.
About WSI Corporation
WSI Corporation is the world's leading provider of weather-driven business solutions for professionals in the aviation, media and energy markets. WSI’s proactive operation management suite ensures common situational awareness and continuity in decisions through every phase of flight. Voted the #1 service by professional pilots for 10 consecutive years, WSI Pilotbrief™ provides professional pilots with a comprehensive preflight briefing prior to takeoff, helping pilots plan safe and efficient operations. WSI InFlight® provides pilots real-time and on-demand graphic weather information in the cockpit, improving safety and weather-avoidance routing in-flight. WSI Fusion enables flight operators to stay ahead of changing operational conditions and take immediate action, improving safety and operational performance. WSI Hubcast™ provides airport stakeholders with precise terminal forecasts to proactively plan traffic flow, snow removal, and deicing operations. WSI also provides cockpit weather services via the FAA’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) Flight Information Services including Capstone and SafeFlight 21. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts with offices in Birmingham, England, WSI is a member of The Weather Channel Companies.
WSI Corporation is the world's leading provider of weather-driven business solutions for professionals in the aviation, media and energy markets. WSI’s proactive operation management suite ensures common situational awareness and continuity in decisions through every phase of flight. Voted the #1 service by professional pilots for 10 consecutive years, WSI Pilotbrief™ provides professional pilots with a comprehensive preflight briefing prior to takeoff, helping pilots plan safe and efficient operations. WSI InFlight® provides pilots real-time and on-demand graphic weather information in the cockpit, improving safety and weather-avoidance routing in-flight. WSI Fusion enables flight operators to stay ahead of changing operational conditions and take immediate action, improving safety and operational performance. WSI Hubcast™ provides airport stakeholders with precise terminal forecasts to proactively plan traffic flow, snow removal, and deicing operations. WSI also provides cockpit weather services via the FAA’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) Flight Information Services including Capstone and SafeFlight 21. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts with offices in Birmingham, England, WSI is a member of The Weather Channel Companies.