29 Apr 2021

TruWeather Solutions (TruWeather), a globally renowned micro weather data and analytics company, and Spire Global, Inc. (Spire), a global provider of space-based data and analytics solutions, have announced that they have signed a letter of commitment, to support TruWeather’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant with NASA.

This commitment enhances previous agreements that align the strengths of both companies, with the goal of enabling safer and more reliable Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), as the emerging industry and air traffic density accelerate in growth.

Access to weather observational data sets

TruWeather will have access to Spire’s weather observational data sets and global predictions

TruWeather will have access to Spire’s weather observational data sets and global predictions, to fuel TruFlite V360 micro-weather prediction models and hyper-local weather decision support APIs.

Spire will leverage TruWeather’s 35 years of aviation weather operations experience and unique positioning in the unmanned systems market, and most importantly, have access to TruWeather’s last-mile weather solutions to address bespoke UAS and AAM weather needs.

end-to-end global weather service

TruWeather and Spire expect the relationship to result in a comprehensive and reliable end-to-end global weather service that is focused on increasing global awareness from the stratosphere to urban city building canyons for drones, air taxis and flight control and management systems and service providers.

TruWeather was recently awarded the NASA grant to develop an urban wind hazard service demonstration, as part of NASA’s Weather Data Infrastructure initiative. The partnership’s precision micro weather analysis and urban predictions will contribute to decreasing operators’ flight pattern uncertainty and increasing their potential revenue, safety and utilisation in urban areas.

Detection of Venturi wind and wake turbulence effects

Future reliability and predictability of drone and air taxi services will depend on better weather services, to detect Venturi wind and wake turbulence effects, micro-burst detection, localised fog and cloud icing that pose significant risk to drone and air taxi operations.

My experience as the National Weather Science and Technology Director informed TruWeather’s decision to partner with Spire and leverage what we believe to be the most promising global weather prediction system in the world. TruWeather only works with the best weather partners to deliver the most advanced pinpoint weather intelligence possible to drone and air taxi operators, UAS Test Ranges, UTM and AAM systems, and federal and local governments worldwide,” said Don Berchoff, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TruWeather Solutions.

Don adds, “TruWeather is aligning sensor and data partners now to address the toughest weather challenges, localised urban wind variances and building induced wake turbulence, and micro-climate icing, and IFR conditions that are sub-grid to weather systems today and must get better for a safe, predictable and reliable drone and air taxi industries.

TruFlite V360°

TruFlite V360° simplifies decision making with subscription-based APIs

TruFlite V360° simplifies decision-making with subscription-based APIs that provide actionable weather insights designed to increase vehicle utilisation rates and optimise stakeholder resources and schedule for the best flight windows.

TruWeather is the first weather solution provider to offer a deeply immersive weather experience built specifically for drone pilots and air taxi operations, all focused on helping the pilot meet FAA Part 107 weather minimums and Part 135 weather requirements.

Accurate micro-weather data and analytics

We believe the combination of Spire’s weather data sets and prediction model with TruWeather’s TruFlite V360 will help ensure that end-users will receive highly accurate forecasting, allowing them to make smarter weather-driven decisions,” said Keith Johnson, Vice President and General Manager for Government Solutions at Spire.

Keith adds, “We know how critical these decisions can be to mission success and we’re proud to partner with TruWeather, a renowned company in micro-weather data and analytics, to create what we expect to be one of the most robust global weather prediction systems that can predict the weather of today, tomorrow and the future.