Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
In about six weeks, weather conditions at the Warsaw Municipal Airport will be available to pilots across the country.
The city's Board of Works members approved a Zlink Service contract Friday, allowing pilots to get a read on Warsaw's weather from anywhere in the country.
The airport's current automated weather observation station doesn't provide data much further than 150 miles away.
Zlink is a communications link to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Airspace Data Interchange Network.
The airport's weather conditions will be updated every 20 minutes, according to airport manager David Beall.
The Zlink upgrade allows any pilot another landing option when the weather isn't optimal. It is also available to commercial weather observation systems.
"For instance," Beall said, "a plane coming up from Louisville plans to land in South Bend. He can read the NADIN system in South Bend and Goshen. Those airports may be below instrument minimums, but Warsaw is above it. Now they can land here."
The system works the other way too, as pilots can use the NADIN from Warsaw to see how conditions are in Indianapolis or Georgia.
In case of an emergency, the system "tells" the pilot where the closest airport is and directs the plane there.
"This does heighten our visibility in the aviation world," Beall said, expecting some increase in fuel sales as a result of the enhanced data system.
Costs to purchase the Zlink satellite equipment is $6,500, plus $1,500 for installation, $931.25 for a one-time fee and a monthly service and maintenance fee of $195.
