26th Operational Weather Squadron

Fly – Fight – Win

SrA Jinny Liechti26th Operational Weather Squadron

Air Force Aviation Weather:

A Case Study

Approved for Public Release - Distribution Unlimited

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Flight Weather Briefings FWBs are executable forecasts for the flying

community Incorrect FWBs can result in:

Loss of life Loss of valuable military resources

It is imperative for all FWBs to be completed timely and correctly

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Manning at the 26th 7 Airmen in the 26th permanently assigned to the

FWB section 5 Airmen in the 26th temporarily assigned to the

FWB section rotating as often as every month Mon-Fri:

0400L-1200L – 7 Airmen on duty 1200L-1500L – 3 Airmen on duty 1500L-0400L – 1 Airman on duty

Sat-Sun: 0400L-1200L – 2 Airmen on duty 1200L-1500L – 2 Airmen on duty 1500L-0400L – 1 Airman on duty

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WBMT

Call Sign

Takeoff Location Destination(s)

Completed by forecasterCompleted by forecaster & checked by briefing manager

Additional info added that briefing manager should be aware ofPublished

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Part I – Takeoff Data

General takeoff weather including hazards that will affect takeoff and climb

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Part II – Enroute & Mission Data

Enroute data including FL winds, clouds and general hazards w/in 5,000ft of FL

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Part III – Aerodrome Forecasts

Destination/Alternate arrival weather including winds, weather and clouds

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Part IV – Comments/Remarks

26 OWS # included for updates, PMSV(s) enroute, and indicates attachments

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Part V – Briefing Record

Brief and void times, forecaster and briefing manager’s initials, mission ID #

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Requested Charts Hazards FL winds

Military Operating Area (MOA) Drop Zone Air Refueling Track (AR Track) Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR) Route Forecast Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Route Forecast

Common Attachments

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Flimsy

General weather for a location and time frame used by up to 12 flights per day

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Total Flight Weather Briefs: 45

Flimsies (Mon-Fri): 35

Flimsies (Sat-Sun): 25

Daily Averages

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Annual Totals by Month

1356

1843

12451336

11331054

1508

1380

1611

1336 1290 12721382

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Monthly 175-1 Totals

847 836902

941869

922981

882

1018 1006 1023 1003 1025

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Monthly Flimsy Totals

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Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) Search and rescue missions

Missing person(s) Medical evacuations Missing aircraft

Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) Extra briefings to aid training purposes

RAID Oklahoma Army National Guard Briefings completed to support drug interdiction

Call sign “Hookmaster” briefings departing KRBD Supports medical evacuations & transports

Special Support

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Impacts to Operations Weather sensitivities (varying depending on acft):

Thunderstorms/Lightning Turbulence Icing Crosswinds Gusting surface winds In-flight refueling visibility

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National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center (AWC) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Sea State Data Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) Pilot Report (PIREP) / Aircraft Report (AIREP)

JAAWIN Out of AOR TAFS/OBS Contrails for flimsies Lightning

26th OWS Homepage Model Data Hazard Forecasts Satellite/Radar

Information Sources

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Questions?