Using Global Satellite Digital Audio Radio Systems for Aviation Weather Dissemination

Weather is a significant contributor to aviation accidents, airline schedule delays, and aircraft operating costs. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has established research programs to reduce these impacts by improving the weather information availability to pilots. The Satellite Weather Information Service (SWIS) project is one such effort. SWIS is using low cost satellite broadcast technologies to demonstrate direct broadcast of weather information into the cockpit. The second phase of SWIS is currently underway on American Airlines aircraft flying trans-Pacific routes. This paper will provide a technical description of the SWIS system, review the results of SWIS Phase I, and give a detailed description of the SWIS Phase II trials.