Aviation Weather Specification Highlights & System Comparison
| Aviation Weather |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Stations provide real-time aviation data |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Multiple runways |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| METAR and SPECI reports |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| SYNOP and CLIMAT reports |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Sensors |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Wind speed and direction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ultrasonic |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Traditional |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Pressure Altimeter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 sensor |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| 2 sensors |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| 3 sensors |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| Humidity/dew point |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Temperature |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Motor aspirated |
X |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
| Naturally aspirated |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Visibility |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Combined visibility and precipitaiton identification |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Separate visibility and precipitation identification |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| Cloud height 25K |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Lightning/thunderstorm detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 0 30 miles |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| Greater than 30 miles |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Precipitation amount |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Freezing Rain |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| RVR |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| Auto-aligning via built in compass |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| Future Expansion |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Universal serial Interface |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Universal digital interface |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Universal analog interface |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Ruggedness |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Passes MIL-STD-410E |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Passes MIL-STD-810F |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| Requires no routine maintenance |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| Communication options from field to PC/Server |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Cable |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Fiber Optic |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Radio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| UHF/VHF |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Spread-Spectrum |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| User Interface Software |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| METAR/SPECI window |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Can view with a Web Browser |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Shows all sensor data |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Built in Tests |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| RVR display |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
X |
| Thunderstorm display |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
X |
| Remote Maintenance Monitoring (RMM) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Displays |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Fixed (non-PC) displays |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| PC User Interface |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Field Portable display |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| Power |
AWOS |
FBS |
Portable |
Remote |
SAWS |
Permanent |
| Battery only |
Some |
|
X |
Some |
|
Some |
| Battery and solar power |
Some |
|
X |
Some |
|
Some |
| Battery, solar or AC power |
Some |
|
X |
Some |
|
Some |
| AC power only |
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
Please contact us for complete information on Coastal's tactical meteorological instruments.