Technology & Innovation
Montis MWOS Enhances Alaska Aviation Safety with Real-Time Weather Data
New Montis Weather Observation System deployed in Alaska provides real-time weather data to improve aviation safety in remote areas.
Introduction: A New Era in Aviation Weather Monitoring
Alaska’s aviation industry has long contended with one of the most challenging operational environments in the United States. With over 80% of its communities inaccessible by road, aviation serves as a lifeline for transporting goods, people, and emergency services. However, Alaska’s vast and rugged terrain, combined with unpredictable and often severe weather, makes flying in the region inherently risky. The absence of timely, reliable weather information has historically contributed to a high rate of aviation incidents and fatalities.
To address these concerns, a team of former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials has developed the Montis Weather Observation System (MWOS), a groundbreaking technology that offers real-time, visual, and analytical weather data to pilots and aviation operators. Debuting in 2025 at the Alaska Airmen Association’s Great Alaska Aviation Gathering, MWOS aims to close critical gaps in weather reporting and improve flight safety, particularly in remote and underserved areas. This article explores the system’s capabilities, its deployment across Alaska, and its broader implications for aviation safety.
Alaska’s Aviation Weather Challenges
Historical Limitations of Weather Infrastructure
Alaska’s geography presents unique challenges for weather observation. The state’s expansive and mountainous terrain, coupled with limited ground infrastructure, hampers the effectiveness of traditional weather monitoring systems like the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). These systems are expensive and often experience outages due to aging infrastructure and reliance on outdated copper wire transmission methods.
According to 2023 data, approximately one-third of Alaska’s weather stations were non-operational on any given day. This level of unreliability significantly impacts flight planning and safety, especially in areas where weather can change rapidly and with little warning. The cost of installing a single AWOS unit can range from $20,000 to $100,000, and new FAA-sponsored installations have been reported to cost up to $2 million per unit.
In response to these issues, the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act removed cost-benefit analysis requirements for weather stations in low-population density states and mandated FAA ownership of compliant AWOS units. Despite these efforts, the coverage remains insufficient, and many communities still lack access to real-time weather data.
Impact on Flight Safety and Operations
The lack of reliable weather information directly correlates with increased aviation risk. Alaska consistently reports the highest aviation fatality rate in the United States. Pilots often have to make life-or-death decisions based on incomplete or outdated weather data. This uncertainty leads to frequent flight delays, cancellations, and costly turnarounds, particularly for commercial operators serving remote destinations.
For instance, operators flying the Anchorage to Dutch Harbor route, a 692-nautical-mile journey, report weather-related turnarounds that can cost thousands of dollars per incident. The inability to visually confirm weather conditions at destination airports forces pilots to err on the side of caution, leading to inefficiencies and financial losses.
These challenges underscore the need for a more robust, cost-effective, and reliable weather observation solution tailored to Alaska’s unique environment. MWOS emerges as a promising answer to this long-standing problem.
The Montis Weather Observation System (MWOS)
Technology and Features
Developed by former FAA officials Walter Combs and Elliot Gatt, MWOS integrates multiple technologies into a single, portable unit. Each system includes high-definition 360° cameras, a suite of weather sensors (measuring temperature, dew point, humidity, pressure, wind, and precipitation), and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) tracking for aircraft. These components are connected via the Iridium satellite network, ensuring global coverage even in the most remote locations.
The data collected is processed through the Montis Cloud Network and delivered to users via the VisRoute mobile application. This platform provides real-time weather visuals and analytics, allowing pilots to make informed decisions before and during flights. The system is designed to be modular and portable, making it ideal for deployment in locations lacking permanent infrastructure.
MWOS adheres to International Weather Standards, ensuring compatibility with existing aviation protocols. It also serves as a potential backup to traditional AWOS systems, offering redundancy during outages and enhancing overall system resilience.
“We’ve moved from phone-booth era weather reporting to smartphone-era integrated awareness.” – Walter Combs, CEO of Montis Corporation
Deployment Across Alaska
MWOS has already been installed at several key locations across Alaska, including Thompson Pass, Whittier, Rampart Airport (PFMP), Merrill Field (PAMR) in Anchorage, and Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA). These sites were strategically chosen to address high-traffic areas and regions known for sudden weather changes. Additional installations are planned throughout the summer of 2025.
The system’s portability allows it to be deployed quickly and efficiently, filling gaps in the existing weather observation network. For example, at Thompson Pass, a critical mountain corridor, the MWOS unit provides a 180° view toward Prince William Sound, offering pilots visual confirmation of weather conditions that textual reports alone cannot convey.
MWOS is not intended to replace existing systems but to complement them. During recent AWOS outages affecting 30% of Alaska’s stations, MWOS provided uninterrupted service thanks to its satellite-based architecture. This redundancy is crucial for maintaining flight safety in a region where aviation is often the only viable mode of transportation.
Economic and Operational Impact
The economic benefits of MWOS are significant. Commercial operators using the system report fewer weather-related turnarounds and cancellations. One operator noted that avoiding just one turnaround per month, thanks to visual weather confirmation, saves the equivalent of one roundtrip passenger seat, translating to thousands of dollars in savings.
The VisRoute app offers a 30-day free trial, followed by a subscription model: $9.99 per month for basic access, $65 for a three-month Android subscription, or $57.50 per month for an annual plan. This pricing structure makes MWOS accessible to both commercial carriers and individual pilots, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional weather systems.
Beyond aviation, MWOS data is also used by industries such as fisheries and oil exploration, further expanding its utility and justifying investment in the technology. The system’s cross-sector applicability enhances its value proposition and supports broader infrastructure development in remote regions.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The Montis Weather Observation System represents a significant advancement in aviation safety, particularly for remote and underserved regions like Alaska. By combining visual, textual, and analytical weather data into a single, portable platform, MWOS addresses long-standing gaps in the state’s weather observation infrastructure. Early deployments have already demonstrated improvements in operational efficiency and safety, with commercial operators reporting tangible cost savings and enhanced situational awareness.
Looking ahead, MWOS serves as a model for future weather observation systems worldwide. Its satellite-enabled architecture and modular design make it suitable for deployment in similarly challenging environments, from Canada’s Arctic territories to mountainous regions in developing countries. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, systems like MWOS will play a critical role in ensuring aviation safety and operational continuity.
FAQ
What is MWOS?
MWOS stands for Montis Weather Observation System. It provides real-time weather data, 360° camera views, and aircraft tracking to enhance aviation safety.
Where is MWOS currently deployed?
MWOS has been installed at Thompson Pass, Whittier, Rampart Airport, Merrill Field in Anchorage, and Fairbanks International Airport, with more locations planned.
How much does the VisRoute app cost?
After a 30-day free trial, the app costs $9.99/month for basic access, with other pricing options available for Android users.
Is MWOS a replacement for AWOS?
No, MWOS is designed to complement existing AWOS systems and can serve as a backup during outages.
Sources:
General Aviation News,
FAA,
National Weather Service,
AEM
Electric Aircraft
Archer and Formula 1 to Explore Air Taxi Flights at Grand Prix Races
Archer and Formula 1 announced a multi-year partnership to study Midnight eVTOL transfers for VIPs and fans at select Grand Prix circuits.
Archer Aviation and Formula 1 have announced a multi-year partnership to explore flying VIPs and fans to and from Grand Prix circuits aboard Archer’s Midnight electric air taxi, including dedicated landing points at circuits and air taxi services within F1’s hospitality and ticketing offerings.
Archer announced the agreement in a press release dated November 12, 2026. The partnership covers select Grands Prix that align with what Archer calls key commercial markets in the US, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The release gives no financial terms and no date for a first air taxi flight at a race, and it describes the work as something the partners will explore.
What the partners plan to study
According to the release, the two companies will look at dedicated air taxi drop-off and pick-up locations at circuits, and at including air taxi services in F1’s hospitality and ticketing offerings. Once Archer’s commercial electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations launch in F1 markets, fans could skip traffic between major airports, business hubs and other key destinations, Archer said.
Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1, said in the release:
“Innovation is at the heart of Formula 1, and Archer shares our passion for pushing boundaries and exploring what is possible.”
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO, pointed to the size of the sport’s audience, saying “With 830 million fans worldwide, Formula 1 gives us a global audience of prospective passengers”. He added that motorsport and aerospace share the same engineering DNA, and that the companies hope to show how innovation on the ground and in the sky could combine for fans at the track.
Archer also drew a technical comparison. It said the power-to-weight demands of eVTOL aircraft are comparable to those of F1, and that, as in an F1 car, its electric propulsion, advanced composites and aerodynamics are engineered as one system.
Where Archer’s planned networks meet the race calendar
Archer said its planned US air taxi networks map closely to F1 race locations, including Miami and Texas, where it has unveiled planned infrastructure networks. Its Texas plan, announced on October 23, 2026, includes an Austin network connecting Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Austin Executive Airport with the F1 Circuit Helipad at the Circuit of the Americas, which Archer said would put Formula 1 United States Grand Prix races minutes away. The same plan covers Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, and Archer said Midnight could turn 60 to 90 minute ground trips into 10 to 20 minute flights.
In South Florida, Archer’s Miami network plan of December 2025 named Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, among the sites whose existing helipads will be prepared for electric operations. That network would also link Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI).
The partnership already has a public side. Archer displayed Midnight at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, October 22 to 25, in the Fan Zone and F1 Paddock as an Official Supporter of F1, and the aircraft will be displayed again at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later in 2026, according to the release. Archer’s third-quarter results release of November 9, 2026, had already said the two companies were forming a multi-year strategic alliance.
Where Midnight stands
Midnight is a piloted electric air taxi that carries up to four passengers and has 12 total engines and propellers, according to Archer. In its third-quarter update and FAA certificate news, Archer said Midnight had received a Market Survey Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA, which the company expects to allow operations in Los Angeles. The company said it is preparing to carry passengers under the US Department of Transportation’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) and for the LA28 Olympic Games.
The eIPP is the framework for Archer’s planned Texas and Florida operations. In March 2026, the Department of Transportation and the FAA selected Archer’s partners in Texas, Florida and New York for the program, and Archer said at the time that it planned early Midnight operations in those states as soon as the second half of 2026. Archer, BETA and Macquarie Capital also launched the ACES charging consortium, which aims to electrify up to 250 air taxi sites across America by 2030 and is working with the Texas Department of Transportation on charging to support eIPP operations in Texas.
Archer reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $5.1 million and a net loss of $274.6 million, with total liquidity of $1.4 billion. The company said its acquisition of Boeing’s Wisk, Insitu and SkyGrid businesses is nearing close, subject to certain regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
What the announcement leaves open
The release names no race where air taxi transfers would be offered first, and gives no pricing or start date. It ties services for fans to the launch of Archer’s commercial eVTOL operations in F1 markets.
Archer’s forward-looking statements list aircraft design and specifications, development and certification timing, air taxi network plans including the eIPP, and the expected benefits of collaborations such as the one with Formula 1 among the matters that could differ from its plans.
Technology & Innovation
Eve Vector Software Handles Over 100 Helicopter Flights at Interlagos
Eve Air Mobility’s Vector software managed helicopter slots for Revo at Interlagos, peaking at more than 100 flights on November 8, 2026.
Eve Air Mobility’s Vector software managed landing and takeoff slots at the temporary helipad serving São Paulo’s Interlagos Circuit during the motorsport weekend there, with traffic peaking at more than 100 helicopter flights on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Revo, the São Paulo helicopter operator that Eve calls its first electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft customer, ran the system at the event for the second year in a row.
In a press release distributed on November 13, 2026, Eve, an Embraer Group company, said Revo’s team used Vector at the helipad set up at the Ayrton Senna Kart Track, next to the circuit, for scheduling and slot management of landings and takeoffs. Eve described the event as the largest international motorsport event, and said the software had been tested at the same event in 2025.
What Vector did at Interlagos
Vector is Eve’s urban air traffic management software. According to the release, it is built on a modular architecture, with Helipad and Vertiport (Aerodrome) and Ground Operations modules that let operators manage high-volume activity across vertiports and helipads. Eve said the software is designed to provide safe and efficient low-altitude air traffic management through automation and data-driven services, and said it represents a new step toward automated, scalable traffic management for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Brazil and worldwide.
Eve said its team supported Revo’s operational staff throughout the weekend so that operations ran smoothly, effectively and “100% safely” across all three days of the event. The release does not give a total number of flights for the weekend or the number of helicopters involved; the only traffic figure is the peak of more than 100 flights on the Sunday.
Johann Bordais, chief executive of Eve Air Mobility, tied the result to the weekend’s traffic:
“The efficient use of Vector over a weekend that concentrates one of the highest volumes of helicopter traffic in Brazil throughout the year demonstrates the full maturity of our solutions for the urban mobility ecosystem.”
Bordais added that Revo will be Eve’s first eVTOL customer in Brazil and globally. João Welsh, chief executive of Revo, said the partnership with Eve “represents a major step in this direction,” both for bringing eVTOLs into Revo’s operations and for developing urban air traffic management solutions.
How the 2026 deployment compares with 2025
This was not Vector’s first outing at the circuit. On November 10, 2025, Eve announced the software’s first real-world deployment, with Revo, during the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix. Revo’s team used Vector from November 7 to 9 that year to manage helicopter operations at the Interlagos racetrack, after training by Eve’s TechCare and Vector teams. Eve said at the time that future Vector operations were planned at other sites, including residential and commercial hubs.
The product description has moved since then. In November 2025, Eve listed a Vertiport and Ground Operations Module and said a Fleet Operations Module for helicopter and eVTOL operators was planned for 2026. The November 2026 release lists separate Helipad and Vertiport (Aerodrome) and Ground Operations modules and gives 2027 for the Fleet Operations Module. The release does not explain the change in timing. Eve says the fleet module will address the needs of helicopter and eVTOL operators as Urban Air Mobility networks expand.
The Revo contract behind the partnership
Revo is part of Omni Helicopters International (OHI), which, according to the November 2026 release, manages a fleet of approximately 90 helicopters and operates over 1,500 weekly flights. In a release dated June 15, 2025, Eve announced its first binding framework agreement with Revo and OHI, covering up to 50 eVTOLs, entry-into-service support and aftermarket services, including Eve’s TechCare package. Eve’s release for that deal was headed as a $250M contract, and the earlier work between the companies had included simulations of urban air traffic management using Vector.
The June 2025 release named Revo as launch operator for Eve’s eVTOLs in São Paulo, with first delivery planned for Q4 2027, and said the city has over 400 registered helicopters and nearly 2,000 daily takeoffs and landings. The November 2026 release says Revo is positioned to operate the technology in Brazil starting in 2028.
Where Eve’s eVTOL program stands
Eve reports a backlog of over 2,700 aircraft, including firm orders and letters of intent, across 28 customers in 10 countries. It has completed more than 73 flights since its flight test campaign began in 2025, after more than 10,000 hours of integrated ground testing. On August 3, 2026, Eve announced its first partial transition flight, in which the prototype’s rear pusher propeller was activated in the air for the first time and the aircraft reached a stabilized speed of 27 knots.
Eve plans to build six certification prototypes for a certification campaign starting in 2027, working with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and the FAA. Once the aircraft is certified, and through the end of 2028, it will be built at a facility under development in Taubaté, São Paulo, with initial capacity of up to 120 aircraft per year and room to expand to up to 480 aircraft annually.
Electric Aircraft
SkyDrive Adds Tobu as Fifth Railway Partner for Kanto eVTOL Services
Tobu Railway and Tobu Top Tours have invested in SkyDrive to develop vertiports, biometric boarding and tours for eVTOL services in Kanto.
SkyDrive has taken new investment from Tobu Railway Co. Ltd. and Tobu Top Tours Co. Ltd., making the Tobu Group its fifth Japanese railway partner and giving the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer a base for vertiports, ticketing and tour packages in the Kanto region around Tokyo ahead of the commercial services it plans for 2028.
SkyDrive announced the funding, made through a third-party share allotment, in a press release dated November 12, 2026, from Toyota City, Japan. The company did not disclose the amount. The partners say they aim to speed up commercial eVTOL deployment in Kanto by combining Tobu Group’s transportation and tourism assets with SkyDrive’s aircraft development and operational expertise.
What each Tobu company brings
The release sets out three areas of work. Tobu Railway will use its rail network, regional presence and tourism assets, especially in the Nikko area, to establish and promote vertiports. The partners will also use Tobu Railway’s “SAKULaLa” common biometric authentication platform, which Tobu Railway developed jointly with Hitachi, Ltd., for identity verification and boarding pass clearance.
Tobu Top Tours will act as an operational connector, using its destination management expertise and municipal networks to design new business models and to package secondary transport. The partnership covers business development and ground infrastructure planning across Kanto.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, founder and CEO of SkyDrive, said the company is “thrilled and deeply encouraged that Tobu Railway and Tobu Top Tours share our vision for the future.” He said eVTOLs need more than aircraft, namely connections to transit networks, vertiports and regional travel experiences, and that SkyDrive and the Tobu Group “will work toward launching commercial services in 2028 to make air mobility a daily choice.”
A rail-first network strategy
SkyDrive has built its domestic plans around railway operators, working with major Japanese railway companies on urban networks that combine train travel with eVTOL flights. Before Tobu, SkyDrive had partnership agreements with four railway companies, each tied to specific routes: Kintetsu Group Holdings in the Ise-Shima area; Osaka Metro, with its “Osaka Diamond Route” linking four key locations in Osaka; East Japan Railway Company (JR East), for routes between Morioka and AZUMA FARM KOIWAI; and Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), in Oita Prefecture, including the Beppu and Yufuin hot spring areas. SkyDrive says it has worked with these operators on feasibility studies and flight demonstrations.
In October 2025, ahead of the Japan Mobility Show 2025 in Tokyo, SkyDrive announced an exhibit built around a boardable mockup of its SD-05 aircraft, entered through a touch-and-go automatic ticket gate, alongside panels showing planned flight routes. The company said at the time that the aim of the railway partnerships was convenient travel combining rail and urban air mobility, along with regional development and public acceptance of the technology. The Tobu agreement brings that model to Kanto.
Where SkyDrive stands
SkyDrive, based in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 and was incorporated in 2018. In 2019, it says, it became the first company in Japan to fly a crewed eVTOL. It flew uncrewed demonstration flights at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and says it is now working through certification steps toward type certification. It is commercializing with local partners and municipalities in 10 countries.
Manufacturing rests on an automotive partnership. SkyDrive and Suzuki Motor Company signed a commercial and technology partnership in March 2022, SkyDrive set up the manufacturing subsidiary SkyWorks in September 2023, and production began in March 2024 at a Suzuki Group plant in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Suzuki has also invested in SkyDrive and supports its business development in India, and Naoki Ishii, Representative Director and Executive Vice President of Suzuki, was appointed an independent SkyDrive director.
The Tobu funding is one of several announcements SkyDrive has made since late October 2026. Its news page lists a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with six Singapore technology companies on advanced air mobility research and development on October 29, 2026, and an MOU with Goyang Special City and Verty on commercial eVTOL deployment in South Korea on November 4, 2026. In Kanto, the Tobu partnership is meant to support SkyDrive’s 2028 service plans for the SD-05.
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