Graphic/Text Weather Service

Adverse weather is cited as one of the leading causes of aviation accidents, including more than one-third of all fatal accidents in all aviation sectors. Accurate, timely weather information in the cockpit can greatly increase flight safety, as well as efficiency. With up-to-date weather information at their fingertips, pilots can select routes to avoid deteriorating weather conditions and make better and more timely decisions about diversions to alternate landing facilities.

ARINC's Graphic/Text Weather Service (G/TWS) provides near-real-time text weather information to ACARS^®-equipped aircraft using any of ARINC's GLOBALink^SM data link services—no matter where the aircraft is located. Received weather information is stored on a dedicated G/TWS server and is automatically overwritten as each update is received, eliminating the possibility of the aircrew using non-current data. These data are made available to aircraft from requests by the aircrew.

Currently, the service provides text-only routine weather reports (METARs), terminal area forecasts (TAFs), combined weather and terminal reports, significant meteorological (SIGMET) information, convective SIGMET information, and airman's meteorological information (AIRMETs). Additional support for NEXRAD graphics is planned within the next year.

G/TWS is a request-response service. At any time during the flight, the pilot can initiate a weather-information request for a specific geographic area. If it appears that severe weather may be encountered along the planned route, the pilot can request, and will immediately receive, detailed weather information for alternate routes or destinations.

Within the next year, future service enhancements will include the ability to display graphical weather information, such as color radar images and turbulence plots, and provide additional text data, including NOTAM notices, pilot reports, and winds aloft.