The following slide-show provides some information on SADIS and ISCS for the un-initiated. Starting of with SADIS, we quote from the UK MetOffice SADIS website

What is SADIS ?
SADIS is a high quality, cost-effective and error-free satellite data distribution system that brings vital flight information to aviation users around the world. It provides a point to multi-point service in real-time on a 24-hour basis via satellite.

• Uses an Intelsat 904 satellite located over the Indian Ocean
• Distributes World Area Forecast System (WAFS) products and global OPMET
• Enables WAFC London to distribute data to more than 90 ICAO states
• Has coverage of around 60 per cent of the earth's land surface
• Two similar satellites over the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans provide the complementary ISCS service, which covers the rest of the world
• Access to the internet-based SADIS FTP Service
• Highly cost effective

The SADIS uplink is located at the Cable & Wireless Communications hub at Whitehill Earth Station, north of Oxford in the UK.

SADIS operations are kept under review by the SADIS Operations Group composed of representatives from various countries within the area serviced by SADIS. The group falls under ICAO and information regarding it can be found on the group's website.

For ISCS, we quote from the USA National Weather Service ISCS site

What is ISCS ?
ISCS is a satellite data distribution system operated by the United States National Weather Service (NWS), providing support to (1) the World Area Forecast System (WAFS), and (2) the Region IV Meteorological Telecommunications Network (RMTN). Verizon (formerly MCI), under NWS contract, operates the satellite broadcast communications service for ISCS. Click here for ISCS operations poster (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

ISCS support for WAFS is on behalf of the International Civil Aviation organization (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). ISCS/WAFS purpose is to provide the worldwide aviation community with operational meteorological forecasts and information about meteorological phenomena required for flight planning and safe, economic, and efficient air navigation. As a real-time, point to multi-point service, it operates on a 24-hour/365-day basis. NWS obtains funding support for ISCS/WAFS from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

ISCS support for RMTN is part of a cooperative effort between NWS and WMO to improve the Global Telecommunications System (GTS), in WMO Region IV (North and Central America). RMTN allows for a two-way exchange of meteorological information between the United States and nations in the Caribbean and Central America. It replaced a much slower, less reliable, "daisy chain" of terrestrial circuits.

ISCS broadcasts utilize three commercial geostationary satellites, (1) INTELSAT 903, located over the Atlantic Ocean, for broadcast to the Atlantic Ocean area, including North and South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and (2) INTELSAT 701 and (3) 906, located over the Pacific Ocean, for broadcasts to the Pacific Ocean Area and Eastern Asia. The broadcasts provide data to over 80 countries (see Atlantic Ocean area countries, Pacific Ocean area countries, RMTN affiliated countries). The ISCS satellite uplinks are located at two Verizon International Gateways -- in Andover, Maine, and Yacolt, Washington.

The two organizations tasked with operating SADIS and ISCS namely WAFC London and WAFC Washington has a close working relationship as can be seen in the large degree of similarity between the products distributed by the two systems. There does exist some technical differences such as VSAT equipment and reception software required to partake in the two programs. These differences are catered for by NetSys and we have customers in both areas of service.

Should you fall in an area covered by both systems, please feel free to contact us for some guidance as to which service is the correct one for your organization.