How can I temporarily suspend service if I won’t be flying for a while (due to winter weather, maintenance, other)?

You can suspend your SiriusXM Aviation Weather service at no cost for up to 6 months when you are not using it by calling 1-800-985-9200 and asking to suspend.

Are there any long-term subscription requirements for SiriusXM Aviation Weather service?

You can subscribe monthly to SiriusXM Aviation service or annually. The SiriusXM Aviation subscription plan you choose will automatically renew thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. Please see our Customer Agreement for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-800-985-9200. All fees, content and features are subject to change. You can suspend your Aviation service for up to 6 months at no charge when your plane is not in use. See rebate terms for any subscription term requirements.

How often is the SiriusXM Aviation Weather data updated?

SiriusXM Aviation data service elements are updated at multiple rates. Dynamic elements like radar and lightning are updated every 2.5 minutes (twice as fast as ADS-B), while other more stable data elements are updated every 60+ minutes. It's important to note that there are two variables at work with our broadcast weather service: data update rates and transmit intervals. While a product source may be updated every 30 minutes, the same data may be transmitted every 5 minutes to ensure your display is up to date. SiriusXM worked with its avionics partners to arrive at the optimal cadence of updated data and transmit intervals to ensure customers receive critical information in a timely manner.

I live/fly in Canada - where can I purchase SiriusXM Aviation weather service?

SiriusXM Aviation coverage area includes southern Canada. Canadian residents can subscribe to SiriusXM Aviation at siriusxm.ca/aviation.

Aviation Plans & Pricing

High-Resolution Composite (NEXRAD) Radar High-resolution reflectivity shows the maximum intensity of rain, snow, and mixed precipitation for all active radar tilts on each radar site. When compared with Base Reflectivity, the Composite Reflectivity can reveal important storm structure features and intensity trends. The image is color-coded to show a complete view of any precipitation. Rain is shown as light green, dark green, yellow, orange and red as intensity increases. Hail, freezing rain and snow are represented with colors from bright pink to blue. Product resolution is 2KM and is available over the Continental US. Updates every 2.5 minutes, twice as fast as ADS-B.

High-Resolution Base Reflectivity Radar Base reflectivity is taken from the lowest elevation radar scan (lowest tilt) and typically represents the intensity of precipitation (rain, snow, and mixed precipitation) that is reaching the surface. Most often, it is better for pilots flying below 10,000 feet. The image is color-coded to show a complete view of any precipitation. Rain is shown as light green, dark green, yellow, orange and red as intensity increases. Hail, freezing rain and snow are represented with colors from bright pink to blue. Product resolution is 2KM and is available over the Continental US and Southern Canada, except for the Pilot Express service tier.

NEXRAD Storm Cell Attributes Storm Attributes show information on the severity of storms. The information is recorded by NEXRAD sites wherever there is heavy precipitation. Storm Attributes include the direction and speed of the storm over time, as well as the elevation of the top of the storm. Measured in 100s of feet, the value indicates the height of rain within the storm. The higher the values, the more intense a thunderstorm is likely to be. Additional information can be displayed, including mesocyclonic activity (MESO, a strong wind vortex), tornado activity (TVS), and the presence or possibility of hail. This feature is available over the Continental United States. Updates every 5 minutes.

Lightning: Cloud-to-Cloud & Cloud-to-Ground The Lightning feature contains the latitude and longitude of both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes detected over North America, including the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. It is updated every 2.5 minutes. SiriusXM has recently upgraded its lightning provider to the most accurate and reliable large-scale lightning detection network in the world. Improvements to the lightning service include:
• 40% cloud-to-cloud lightning detection improvement
• 20% lightning strike location accuracy improvement
• 5% cloud-to-ground lightning detection improvement

Temporary Flight Restrictions Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is a restriction on an area of airspace due to the movement of government VIPs, special events, natural disasters, or other unusual events. TFR reports have IDs, effective dates/times, geolocation information (including altitude), as well as the actual text of the restriction. The coverage areas for TFR reports include CONUS, AK, HI, PR, and GUAM. Updates every 5 minutes.

Winds Aloft - Graphical The upper air wind grid provides both observed and forecasted upper level winds for each point in the grid. This product covers 3-hour forecast periods through 24 hours, from 5N to 62N and 130W to 65W. Updates every 30 mins.

Temps Aloft The upper air temperature grid provides observed and forecasted upper level temperatures for each point in the grid. This product covers 3-hour forecast periods through 24 hours, from 5N to 62N and 130W to 65W. Updates every 30 mins.

AIRMETs & SIGMETs AIRman's METeorological Information (AIRMETs) advises of weather that may be hazardous to single engine, light aircraft and Visual Flight Rule (VFR) pilots. This advisory affects an area of at least 3,000 square miles at any one time, and provides data on ceiling, obscuration and turbulence. AIRMETs are issued for IFR, Mountain Obscuration, Icing, Turbulence Aloft, Surface Turbulence, or High Surface Winds. AIRMETs are routinely issued for 6 hour periods beginning at 0245 UTC during Central Daylight Time and at 0145 UTC during Central Standard Time. AIRMETs are also amended as necessary due to changing weather conditions or issuance/cancellation of a SIGMET. Updates every 30 mins.

Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs) advisories are issued when conditions affecting all aircraft have been detected or predicted. SIGMETs are issued for: Icing, Surface Turbulence, Aloft Turbulence, Visibility, Volcanic Eruptions, or Convective Activity. SIGMETs are issued for 6 hour periods for conditions associated with hurricanes, and 4 hours for all other events. If conditions persist beyond the forecast period, the SIGMET is updated and reissued. Advisories are provided for US, Canada, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean. Updates every 30 mins.

PIREPs

Pilot reported information (PIREPs) are observations of icing, turbulence, weather and sky cover fields made by an aircraft in flight. Each PIREP has an associated valid time, latitude, longitude and flight level from where the observations were taken. PIREPs can also contain other information such as tornadoes, funnel clouds, or waterspouts, as well as report the presence of hail or volcanic ash. Low level wind shear is also often reported by pilots, and typically include the airspeed fluctuations observed. Any fluctuation that is greater than 10kts will be represented as an Urgent PIREP. The geographic coverage area of this product is the rectangle from 62 degrees North latitude, -160 degrees West longitude to 5 degrees North latitude, -50 degrees West longitude. Updates every 15 mins.

High-Resolution Surface Winds Forecast

The High-Res wind feature displays surface wind conditions. The display can be set to show the current and most recent wind conditions, or to show the forecast up to 48 hours ahead depending on service level. This product covers 5N to 62N, and 130W to 65W. Updates every 20 mins.

Weather Map w/Surface Features & Isobars

The Weather Map displays high ("H") and low ("L") pressure systems. Pressure is measured at the center of the system in millibars. The map also indicates cold and warm fronts, the front’s direction of movement, and Isobars (lines of equal pressure). It can be set to show the current conditions, or to show the forecast up to 48 hours ahead. The coverage area is 5N to 62N, and 130W to 65W. Updates every 20 mins.

Icing NOWcast

Icing NOWcast depicts the current icing potential, Current Icing Severity (CIS) and Supercooled Large Droplet (SLD) across the continental U.S. SLD information is provided in terms of probability.

This product provides information for the current flight levels:
0 to 3000 ft.
3000 to 6000 ft.
6000 to 9000 ft.
9000 to 12000 ft.
12000 to 15000 ft.
15000 to 18000 ft.
18000 to 21000 ft.
21000 to 24000 ft.

It covers 16N to 54N, and 139W to 58W. Updates every 15 mins.

METARs & TAFs — CONUS

METARs are the scheduled airport meteorological observations taken at the end of each hour. SPECI is an observation taken at an unscheduled time due to certain conditions such as low visibility, low clouds, frozen precipitation, or thunderstorms.

TAF (Terminal Area Forecast) is the forecasted meteorological condition at an airport for the next 30 hours. In some locations, the projection is only for 24 hours.

IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) includes ceilings less than 1,000 feet AGL and/or visibility 1 mile to less than 3 miles.
LIFR (Low Instrument Flight Rules) includes ceilings below 500 feet AGL and/or visibility less than 1 mile.
VFR (Visual Flight Rules) includes ceilings greater than 3,000 feet AGL and visibility greater than 5 miles.
MVFR (Marginal Visual Flight Rules) includes ceilings between 1,000 to 3,000 feet AGL and/or visibility of 3 to 5 miles.

This CONUS product covers 20N to 51N, and 132W to 65W. The Non-CONUS product covers 05N to 80N, and 179W to 50W. There is overlap between the two products. Updates every 10 mins.

METARs & TAFs — Non-CONUS

Cloud Top Image

Satellite observation of clouds is represented as temperature data, where colder cloud tops are typically found at higher altitudes. This temperature data is transformed into cloud top height contours. The cloud top product indicates the height of the cloud top in levels with increments of 5000 ft., and covers the continental United States. Updates every 30 mins.

Echo Top Raster

Graphical depiction of radar indicates the maximum height of the NEXRAD reflectivity returns that are 18.5dBZ or higher. The product is used to identify the top of the storm where precipitation is light in intensity. It covers the continental United States. Updates every 5 mins.

Graphical Turbulence Guidance

The Graphical Turbulence Guidance product is a model forecast of turbulence severity. The data is provided at flight levels FL180, FL210, FL240, FL270, FL300, FL330, FL360, and FL390 and indicates smooth, light, moderate, and severe turbulence. This product is updated hourly and covers 14N to 59N, and 140W to 56W. Updates every 30 mins.

Freezing Level

The Freezing Level product indicates the height at which the air temperature is at or below freezing. Freezing levels are contoured in increments of 100s of feet. This product covers 20N to 62N, and 130W to 65W. Updates every 30 mins.

Tropical Storm Tracks with Windfields

The Storm Tracks product provides the historical and forecasted positions of a tropical system, as well as their wind fields. Reports are available over the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. Updates occur when the National Hurricane Center has identified and is tracking a tropical system. Updates every 5 mins.

Surface Visibility Forecast

Surface Visibility Forecasts indicate areas where visibility is expected to be less than ten miles. Visibility is defined in quarter statute mile increments. Good visibility is considered to be ten miles or better. When the estimated visibility drops below ten miles, a contour line appears, separating areas with different levels of visibility. Product coverage is 20N to 62N, and 130W to 65W. Updates every 30 mins.

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SiriusXM Pilot Preferred

SiriusXM Pilot Pro

Package Features

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FAQs

How can I temporarily suspend service if I won’t be flying for a while (due to winter weather, maintenance, other)?

Are there any long-term subscription requirements for SiriusXM Aviation Weather service?

How often is the SiriusXM Aviation Weather data updated?

I live/fly in Canada - where can I purchase SiriusXM Aviation weather service?