Forward Scatter Visibility Sensor from All Weather, Inc. Features Industry's Only 4-Head, Dual Beam Design; Measures Smoke, Dust, and Sand When Others Can't

Austin, TX (April 14, 2004) — All Weather, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high accuracy, high dependability weather information systems and meteorological sensors, today announced at the Texas Airports Conference the latest version of the 8364-E Dual Technology Visibility Sensor. Designed to handle challenging environmental conditions, the system features a patented architecture with four sensor heads that measure both direct and scattered optical energy. This ensures that accurate measurements are made independent of the effects of the environment. Unlike traditional two head visibility sensors that only measure fog, snow, and rain, the AWI 8364-E can measure fog, snow, rain, haze, smoke, dust, and sand. This is especially important in situations where mud and dirt are blown into the air by jet exhausts and deposited on sensor window surfaces, a common problem at airfields.

"The original two head visibility sensors did not meet the FAA's required 90-day maintenance cycle for window cleaning. Blowing snow would clog the windows and dirt would contaminate them," said Gary Wagner, CEO of All Weather, Inc. "Our goal was to solve that problem by combining the best of both worlds-the transmissiometer's ability to measure direct transmissions in harsh conditions AND the forward scatter sensor's ability to measure varying density and scatter functions. With the 8364-E, the result is maximized accuracy, reduced recurring calibration, and minimized maintenance requirements."

Unique Design-Four Heads are Better Than Two
The AWI 8364-E features four sensor heads, two infrared emitters and two solid-state photodetectors; they perform two direct and two scatter measurements for each reported visibility measurement. Scattered light is measured using a highly accurate extinction coefficient from 0.15 to 600 miles. This makes it possible to measure visibility in fog, snow, and rain. Particles that absorb and do not scatter light are detected by direct transmission, allowing for the measurement of visibility during harsh conditions such as haze, smoke, dust, and sand.

Any visibility sensor should be designed to fully compensate for the errors introduced into the measurement process by environmental factors, whether it's dirt deposited onto the sensor windows or blockage of the optical path due to spider webs. Transmissiometers suffer from contamination problems and require constant cleaning and a vibration-free surface. The AWI 8364-E, on the other hand, features advanced signal processing functions, such as compensation for dirty windows, which ensure higher accuracy under all weather conditions.

The four head design of the AWI 8364-E is also more reliable than two head systems. Should one of the four heads fail, the unit can continue operating with only three heads. Heaters are installed to keep the lenses free of rain, snow, and ice buildup. A built-in cross-checking function significantly reduces the possibility of reporting erroneous data. Little maintenance is required beyond the occasional lens cleaning and calibration check.

The 8364-E surpasses the requirements established by the FAA for Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) and so can be used as part of AWI's Series 900 AWOS, a complete aviation weather system that provides fast, accurate, and reliable meteorological data for increasing flight operations safety.

Pricing & Availability
The All Weather, Inc, 8364-E is available from stock. Prices start at $8000.

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, 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. All Weather, Inc. is the preferred development partner of the FAA; the company's ASOS, AWOS, and AWSS systems meet the stringent standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and Transport Canada. AWI has installed 1700 high-end automated weather systems around the globe, working with such leading authorities as the U.S. National Weather Service, ExxonMobil, Cigna, and INFRAERO (Brazil). For more information, see www.allweatherinc.com.

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