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Marit Finne The 10th European Editor-in-Chief Championships were held in Vaisala News Vaisala Helsinki Lüsse, Germany, from July 29 to Finland August 13, 2000. Vaisala’s AW11 Aviation Reporter was installed at the Championships airfield. The AW11 measures all the stan- dard aviation weather parame- ters: sky condition (cloud layer height and coverage), visibility, air pressure, temperature, dew- point, wind speed and direction.

AW11 Aviation Reporter assists at the European Gliding Champs

The AW11 Aviation Reporter can be set up at an airfield with no more effort than it takes to install a meteorological sensor.

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Last summer Tero Koivunen participated in the 10th European Gliding Championships held in Lüsse, Germany.

ero Koivunen, a so far have been the award of on the prevailing weather con- to follow weather developments Software Engineer at “Finnish Master” in 1999 in the ditions at the airport. It inte- and inform their pilots about Vaisala, is an enthu- standard class, and 3rd place in grates all the sensors and fea- changes. “I think the partici- T siastic pilot. the Young Nordic Gliding tures of a complete Airport pants were satisfied with the He has also studied meteorol- Championships in 1993. Aviation Weather Observation weather reports generated by ogy. “Maybe my gliding hobby Mr. Koivunen participated in System in a single product. the AW11,” says Tero Koivunen. has affected my choice of ca- the 10th European Gliding Designed for small airfields, Sailplanes are able to glide by reer,” says Koivunen. “Since Championships held in Lüsse, the entire system can be set up utilizing ascending air currents my hobby is strongly weather- Germany, last summer, coming with no more effort than it or thermals. After a sailplane is related, it is certainly very com- in 21st out of 42 competitors. takes to install one meteorolog- towed to a starting height of 500 patible with the meteorological Says Mr. Koivunen: “Even though ical sensor. to 600 meters (1,700 to 2,000 profession!” I didn’t win, it was a valuable A speech synthesizer converts feet), it will continue flying by Knowledge of meteorology is experience to participate in a the weather information into gliding on the air currents and very important in gliding, espe- big .” spoken messages, making the soaring upwards. Usually, both cially on long-distance flights. data accessible to pilots through these techniques are applied in- But to succeed in competitions, Real-time weather info the built-in VHF radio and tele- termittently during a flight. too, glider pilots have to choose phone network. Competition New technology and flying the right strategy, especially if With the help of the Vaisala organizers also arranged for the techniques have enabled the the weather changes during the Hamburg Office, the AW11 weather data to be displayed on most experienced glider pilots competition. Aviation Reporter was installed their web pages via PC, by mak- to fly distances of up to 1,000 at the Championships airfield. ing a small Perl script running km (600 miles) in favorable cir- European gliding The AW11 measures all the on Linux. cumstances. championships standard aviation weather para- meters: sky condition (cloud Mastery of the weather Since he started gliding at the age layer height and coverage), visi- is the key to success of 15 in 1984, Tero Koivunen has bility, air pressure, temperature, flown between 50 and 100 hours dewpoint, wind speed and di- Weather information is a ‘secret’ every summer. Since 1987, he has rection. weapon for most gliding teams. also participated in gliding com- The AW11 generates accu- Sometimes competition teams petitions. His best achievements rate real-time weather reports have their own meteorologists

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