AWI AWOS Systems Installed on Alaska’s North Slope
Sacramento, CA (August 21, 2008) —Beginning this summer, helicopter pilots on Alaska’s North Slope will have access to weather data from two Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) to aid in off-shore flights. The AWOS systems, manufactured by All Weather, Inc. (AWI) of Sacramento, California simultaneously monitor weather conditions at an on-shore helipad in Dead Horse, Alaska and at an offshore drill site helipad. The weather information from both sites is available continuously to on-shore ground personnel and pilots, as well as helicopters in flight.
“Knowing the weather is a crucial link in maintaining production and safety at oil platforms and facilities, and in Alaska this is especially true,” said Barbara Baca, U.S. Sales Manager for All Weather, Inc. “With the short summer season and quickly changing weather on the North Slope, a steady, reliable stream of information is essential. The AWOS systems meet this challenge well, and will undoubtedly help eliminate some of the uncertainty involved in Alaskan oil operations.”
The AWOS, developed by AWI, is an unmanned system that measures current weather conditions and outputs the data continuously over ground-to-air radio. Pre-flight operations and ground personnel can also view the data on a flexible network of internet-based displays using AWI’s AWOS Net interface. AWOS Net provides secure data output to on-site and remote displays using internet protocols, allowing the data to be viewed in standard web browsers.
The helipad AWOS systems incorporate state-of-the-art, heated ultrasonic wind sensors for measuring wind speed and direction. These sensors eliminate the freezing problems encountered with many mechanical wind sensors. Both sites are also outfitted with AWI’s Laser Ceilometer, an instrument that uses laser pulses to detect clouds and measure the extent of cloud cover. Using sophisticated software algorithms, the AWI ceilometers are able to determine the height and depth of up to three layers of clouds above the sites.
About All Weather Inc.
All Weather, Inc. (AWI) is a leading developer of high-accuracy, high-dependability weather information systems that help users minimize risks in an unpredictable world. The company provides AWOS aviation weather systems and air traffic control display systems, as well as a wide range of high-accuracy meteorological sensors and systems, including laser ceilometers, runway visual range systems, lightning detection sensors, and a variety of other meteorological sensors. AWI’s ASOS, AWOS, and AWSS systems meet the stringent standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and FAA. AWI has installed more than 2000 high-end automated weather systems around the globe, working with such leading authorities as the U.S. National Weather Service, FAA, ICAO, WMO and commercial users around the world. For more information, see www.allweatherinc.com.
For further information, contact:
Barbara Baca, U.S. AWOS Sales
All Weather, Inc.
1165 National Drive, Sacramento, CA 95834 USA
+1 916.928.1000, Fax: +1 916.928.1165
Email: Contact AWI
Web: www.allweatherinc.com