Vaisala incorporates lightning data into offshore helideck monitoring service

Offshore staff

VANTAA, Finland — Vaisala has integrated data from the Global Lightning Dataset GLD360, which is part of the company’s Xweather weather and environmental data services, into its helideck monitoring system for harsh offshore environments.

According to the company, GLD360 is the sole sensor network that detects thunderstorms in real time anywhere in the world, including oceans, seaports and other areas outside the range of weather radars.

This is said to allow helicopter pilots, helideck operators and offshore authorities to take “waiting on weather” decisions to help minimize operational downtime, improve route planning, and reduce cost and impact of weather disruptions.

Vaisala claims its data network identifies 100% of global thunderstorms, including five to 10 times more lightning than any other service, and locates lightning with a median accuracy of 1 km.

The Vaisala Lightning Threat Zone provides nowcasts for storm and lightning trajectory in 10-mile increments up to 60 minutes out, advising when a location of interest may be impacted.

There is no need to purchase, install or maintain single-point lightning detection sensors for the helideck monitoring system, the company said.

Its lightning detection networks are used by the US Navy, US Air Force, National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and various large power utilities and commercial organizations globally.

Lightning data services are said to be compatible with 4G LTE, 5G and all common satellite internet communication solutions used at sea, and the helideck monitoring system is said to comply with the current CAP437 and Helideck Certification Agency requirements.

03.09.2023