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Rev 4 Aug/2007
KMD 250 Pilot's Guide
Section 2
FIS Operation
To receive FIS WX products, an aircraft must be equipped with a com-
patible VDL receiver (KDR 510) or XM receiver (KDR 610), dedicated
VHF antenna or satellite antenna, and appropriate display (KMD 250).
FIS VDL uses a one-way (ground-to-air) broadcast protocol. XM WX
uses one-way (satellite network to air) broadcast protocol. Data is con-
tinually broadcast without the need to request information, nor acknowl-
edge receipt.
Both basic (no-cost) and value added fee-based products are transmitted
by VDL. Basic VDL products are displayed using standard ICAO/WMO
textual format.
The VDL ground station network repetitively broadcasts the same
product until either newer data is available or the information has
exceeded a pre-determined expiration time. Basic products are broad-
cast at least once every 5 minutes by the VDL system. Products are
broadcast once every 5 - 12 minutes (depending on the product) by the
XM system.
NOTE: Due to inherent delays, areas of coverage and relative age and
availability of the data that can be experienced, weather data cannot
be viewed as an absolute depiction of conditions at a specific location.
Introduction
No-Cost VDL Subscription Fee-Based XM Subscription
Aviation Routine Weather Reports
(METARs)
Aviation Routine Weather Reports
(METARs)
Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports
(SPECIs)
Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports
(SPECIs)
Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs) Terminal Area Forecasts (TAFs)
Pilot Reports (PIREPs)
AIRMETs AIRMETs
SIGMETs SIGMETs
Convective SIGMETs Convective SIGMETs
Alert Weather Watches (AWWs)
Fee-Based VDL Subscriptions
NEXRAD Base Reflectivity NEXRAD Composite Reflectivity
Graphical METARs Graphical METARs
Graphical AIRMETs Graphical AIRMETs
Graphical SIGMETs Graphical SIGMETs
Graphical Convective SIGMETs Graphical Convective SIGMETs
Graphical Alert Weather Watches
KMD 250 FIS_R4 8/13/07 10:07 AM Page 2-3