Appareo unveils portable in-flight weather for iPad

On opening day of Sun ’n Fun, Appareo  introduced a wire-free weather receiver for the iPad that  requires no monthly subscription. Dubbed Stratus, it combines an ADS-B and GPS receiver into a single unit that wirelessly streams NEXRAD radar, text weather, TFRs and aircraft position to the ForeFlight Mobile app for iOS devices.

“Stratus delivers exactly what pilots have been asking for — a simple, smart and subscription-free way to view in-flight weather on their iPad,” says Sporty’s Pilot Shop Vice President John Zimmerman. “It’s incredibly easy to use, with just one button and virtually no setup.”

The portable design includes an internal eight-hour battery, a high-gain internal antenna, and a WiFi connection to the iPad, so Stratus can be placed on the glare shield and out of the way. It is easy to move from airplane to airplane, making it ideal for renters, flying clubs and corporate flight departments.

Stratus is a collaboration between Sporty’s, ForeFlight and Appareo Systems. “ForeFlight, Appareo, and Sporty’s worked closely to ensure that the experience provided by Stratus would be best in class among portable ADS-B weather receivers and iPad applications,” says ForeFlight co-founder Tyson Weihs. “Pilots flying with Stratus and ForeFlight Mobile will see ADS-B information integrated throughout the app. Nice touches — like the ability to remotely control LED brightness and real-time ADS-B station information — will make flying with Stratus a joy.”

Stratus wirelessly streams the full suite of available weather products: NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, PIREPs, TFRs, and winds aloft. It also includes a built-in WAAS GPS receiver that provides position information to ForeFlight Mobile’s moving map, which includes VFR sectional and IFR enroute charts.

The WiFi connection allows multiple iPads to connect to Stratus, making it possible for two-pilot crews to view weather on separate iPads. Stratus weighs less than 12 oz.

Stratus is available for $799 and comes with a wall plug and charging cable. Stratus can be ordered at Appareo.com or Sportys.com

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