News Avionics
Bell and SiriusXM deal to provide weather, audio subscription

Bell reached a deal with SiriusXM to become the first helicopter OEM to provide its customers with a three-month subscription to SiriusXM’s satellite-delivered aviation weather, information, and audio programming services with the purchase of a new rotor-wing aircraft.

A three-month subscription to SiriusXM’s satellite-delivered aviation weather, information, and audio programming services is available on the following Bell models: 407GX, Bell 429, and the Bell 525. SiriusXM Aviation weather and audio services are available in the continental United States and Canada.

“We are very pleased to expand the SiriusXM Aviation Weather and Information trial program to Bell, an innovative and highly-respected leader in the industry, as the first participating helicopter manufacturer,” said Dave Wasby, SiriusXM’s VP of Aviation, Marine and Music for Business. “With SiriusXM Aviation, Bell will provide their pilots the ability to receive valuable weather features and information that are not always available via ground-based networks, and updated data at a faster refresh rate. Plus, with SiriusXM’s All Access package, pilots can enjoy the best in audio entertainment in the cockpit for the duration of their flights, as well as outside the aircraft with the SiriusXM app.”

Bell helicopters come optionally equipped with Garmin GDL69 avionics to deliver SiriusXM Aviation Weather features, including: High-Resolution Composite Radar updating every 2.5 minutes, surface visibility, NEXRAD storm cell attributes, 2.5 minute updates for Lightning strike locations (cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground), and Base Reflectivity Radar. SiriusXM Aviation explains its satellite service also eliminates line-of-sight restrictions, altitude limitations or gaps in coast-to-coast coverage.

SiriusXM All Access subscribers receive satellite-delivered channels in their aircraft, plus streaming access to SiriusXM programming outside their aircraft on the SiriusXM app, online at player.siriusxm.com, and on a range of connected devices and speakers. The SiriusXM app also delivers multiple additional streaming-only features like SiriusXM’s Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora, SiriusXM video, and more than 100 Xtra Music Channels.