Orlando International Airport Puts Lightning Safety First with ForeWarn^TM System from ARINC

October 8, 2007

Annapolis, Maryland—When lightning storms threaten near an airport, ramp managers must decide when to curtail outside activities on the ramps for personnel safety—and when to resume ramp activity again. To make the right decisions, managers need the best weather information they can obtain.

Ramp managers at Orlando International Airport now have the advantage of an enhanced lightning warning system from ARINC Incorporated. An ARINC customer since 2000, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority recently upgraded to ARINC’s ForeWarn^TM TWX1200 system. It not only evaluates the risk of lightning on the airport grounds, but shows personnel the actual locations of lightning strikes as a storm moves closer and enters pre-defined warning areas. 

“As the busiest passenger airport in Florida, we are constantly looking for the latest technology to help detect and provide accurate and minute-by-minute information on weather systems as they move through the area that may impact aircraft operations,” states Parker McClellan, Jr. AAAE,  Senior Director of Airports for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

The enhanced ForeWarn system displays all nearby lightning strikes, allowing managers to use their judgment as a storm approaches. The system also offers a fully automated warning light display. It monitors data from electrical field mills (EFMs) installed on the airport grounds, and combines this local data with regional lightning information from ARINC’s partner Vaisala, the world’s leading provider of lightning data.

The enhanced ForeWarn system offers an improved map display, configurable warning areas, individual timers for warning areas and EFM alerts, and a status window showing alert conditions at each location. It can automatically send local and remote warnings to strategic local operations, airlines, and airfield users via colored Remote Alarm Displays (RADS) and 90-decibel alarms. It also has wireless alarm broadcast capabilities.

The Vaisala lightning data is now delivered over the airport’s high-speed LAN instead of a satellite feed. The LAN also carries the local alarm and EFM data, reducing the need for leased phone lines and improving troubleshooting capability.

Storm threats and storm conditions can affect all types of ground support at airports. The best way to minimize impact is to detect when a high risk of lightning exists, take appropriate action, and confirm when the risk has passed. ARINC ForeWarn is designed to accomplish this goal, providing enhanced safety for ramp operators with minimal downtime. ForeWarn is used at major airports throughout North America and is tailored to meet the specified safety requirements of each. ARINC is the exclusive North American partner of Vaisala, Inc. in the area of aviation lightning warning systems.

ARINC Incorporated is a world leader in transportation communications and systems engineering. The company develops and operates communications and information processing systems and provides systems engineering and integration solutions to eight key industries: airports, aviation, aerospace and defense, government, healthcare, networks, security, and transportation. Founded to provide reliable and efficient radio communications for the airlines, ARINC is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, and maintains regional offices in London and Singapore, with over 3,200 employees worldwide. ARINC is ISO 9001:2000 certified.

Release: 07-93

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