Why it matters
Synthetic Vision used to require a Garmin panel or a $50,000 avionics retrofit. Marathon Rank 7 ships browser-rendered Synthetic Vision 3D using three.js, so any pilot — fixed-wing or helicopter — gets the terrain picture during inadvertent IMC. Helicopter mode adds the wire-strike defense overlay that fixed-wing SVT skips.
Under the hood
- three.js terrain rendering pipeline
SRTM elevation data tiled and rendered at 10m resolution near aircraft.
- FAA obstacle data overlay (towers, wires, antennas)
Daily-refreshed FAA DOF (Digital Obstacle File) integration.
- Helicopter wire-strike defense layer
Power lines and tower-to-tower spans stay visible at low altitude.
- IIMC trigger detection
AGL + visibility delta + dewpoint spread surfaces the SVT view automatically.
- Course-deviation indicator on synthetic scene
Pre-loaded MEA + obstacle clearance plays as a flight director.
Regulatory and safety context
Helicopter wire-strike accidents are catastrophic and almost always survivable only if the wire is seen. Fixed-wing SVT typically omits wire data because fixed-wing operations are above the threat. Marathon Rank 7 keeps the wire layer on for helicopter mode — a difference that matters at HEMS night ops altitudes.