Honeywell has received a Technical Standard Order from the FAA for its IntuVue RDR-7000 weather radar system. This both approves the design and authorises Honeywell to produce radars for deliveries to customers. The company is working to complete STCs for 15 different platforms to install the RDR-7000 on customer aircraft by the end of 2020.

The RDR-7000, which debuted at NBAA-BACE last year, is the most recent addition to Honeywell's IntuVue family of weather radar products. For over a decade, Honeywell's IntuVue RDR-4000 weather radar gave pilots additional insight into storms, allowing them to see a fuller, clearer picture of weather ahead. By installing the RDR-7000, smaller aircraft in the regional and business aviation segments, as well as commercial helicopters, can now benefit from this technology, including the ability to detect turbulence up to 60 nm ahead.

The 3D radar is fully automated, scanning from zero up to 60,000 ft, and up to 320 nm in front of the aircraft. Additionally, it can predict windshear up to five nautical miles ahead and the presence of hail and lightning up to 160 nautical miles in front of the aircraft with up to 93 per cent accuracy.

“Larger business and passenger jets have benefitted from IntuVue for years, and soon those same capabilities will be available on many more platforms,” says Mike Ingram, VP of avionics. “Pilots of these smaller aircraft will have the same 3D capabilities, full automation and predictive weather insights to help them make critical decisions to navigate weather ahead of and around the aircraft.”

Flight testing and production of the RDR-7000 are currently underway, and initial deliveries to customers are expected to begin in the third quarter of this year. Honeywell's RDR-7000 is available for several aircraft models including the Dassault Falcon 900C/EX/LX, Bombardier's Global 5000/Express, Cessna's Citation X and several other Citation models, as well as Learjet 40 and 45 aircraft.