National Weather Service National Weather Service

Aviation ServicesAviation Services

ObjectiveObjective

To outline all National Weather Service To outline all National Weather Service Aviation Products and Services from Aviation Products and Services from Aviation Weather Center (AWC), Center Aviation Weather Center (AWC), Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) and Weather Service Units (CWSUs) and Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs).Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs).

WFO: Routine Aviation ProductsWFO: Routine Aviation Products

AVIATION FORECAST DISCUSSION (AFD)AVIATION FORECAST DISCUSSION (AFD) TERMINAL AREODROME FORECASTS (TAFS)TERMINAL AREODROME FORECASTS (TAFS)

Additional Aviation ProductsAdditional Aviation Products

AIRPORT WEATHER WARNINGS (AWW)AIRPORT WEATHER WARNINGS (AWW) (Select sites)(Select sites) Issued at the request of the airportIssued at the request of the airport

AFD BackgroundAFD Background ISSUED 4-TIMES DAILY:ISSUED 4-TIMES DAILY:

More frequently based on needMore frequently based on need OEP Airfields (Operational Evolution Partnership Plan) OEP Airfields (Operational Evolution Partnership Plan)

OEP TAFs issued every 3-hrs Beginning June 2010OEP TAFs issued every 3-hrs Beginning June 2010

DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON TAF:DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON TAF: Forecaster conveys confidenceForecaster conveys confidence

What could go wrong with the TAF?What could go wrong with the TAF? Why different from National Digital Forecast Database?Why different from National Digital Forecast Database?

WEATHER IMPACTS TO AVIATIONWEATHER IMPACTS TO AVIATION VFR/IFR or BELOWVFR/IFR or BELOW Wind ShiftsWind Shifts Link: Link: https://aviationweather.gov/testbed/afd/

OEP Airports

Map of Aviation AFD Interface

TAF: BackgroundTAF: Background ISSUED ROUTINELY:ISSUED ROUTINELY:

00Z/06Z/12Z/18Z00Z/06Z/12Z/18Z Definition: 5 mile radius / vicinity covers the 5 to 10 mile radius:Definition: 5 mile radius / vicinity covers the 5 to 10 mile radius:

PRECISION AIRPORT FORECAST:PRECISION AIRPORT FORECAST: WindWind

Direction/SpeedDirection/Speed

Expected WeatherExpected Weather VisibilityVisibility Cloud HeightCloud Height Expected Significant WeatherExpected Significant Weather Low Level Wind Shear (If needed)Low Level Wind Shear (If needed)

KJFK 181730Z 1818/1918 17012KT P6SM -RA BKN035 FM182200 22015G25KT P6SM -RA BKN025 OVC035 WS020/20050KT FM190000 24017G30KT 4SM -RA BR OVC035 WS020/22050KT FM190200 27010KT P6SM -RA BKN035=

TAF: Additional InformationTAF: Additional Information HIGH IMPACT AIRFIELDS (OEP Terminals):HIGH IMPACT AIRFIELDS (OEP Terminals):

At a minimum: TAFs issued eight times per day (every three hours)At a minimum: TAFs issued eight times per day (every three hours) AMENDMENTS:AMENDMENTS:

Generally focus on hours two to sixGenerally focus on hours two to six 30-HR TAFs:30-HR TAFs:

Select Sites: Select Sites:

KATLThe William B. Hartsfield

Atlanta InternationalKBDL Bradley International KBOS

General Edward Lawrence Logan

InternationalKBWI

Baltimore-Washington International

KCLECleveland Hopkins

InternationalKCVG Covington/Cincinnati KDEN

Denver International

KDFWDallas/Fort Worth

International

KDTWDetroit Metropolitan

Wayne CountyKEWR Newark Liberty International KIAD

Washington Dulles

InternationalKIAH

Houston – George Bush Intercontinental

KIND Indianapolis International KJFK John F. Kennedy International KLAXLos Angeles

InternationalKMKE

General Mitchell International

KMSPMinneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-

ChamberlainKOAK

Metropolitan Oakland International

KONTOntario

InternationalKORD

Chicago-O’Hare International

KPHL Philadelphia International KPIT Pittsburgh International KSANSan Diego Int’l – Lindbergh Field

KSDFLouisville, Int’l Standiford Field

KSEASeattle-Tacoma

InternationalKSFO San Francisco International KSLC

Salt Lake City International

KSTLLambert-St Lewis

International

KSWF Stewart International PANCTed Stevens Anchorage

InternationalPHNL Honolulu PAFA Fairbanks

AIRPORT WEATHER WARNINGS (AWW)AIRPORT WEATHER WARNINGS (AWW)

ISSUED FOR SELECT AIRFIELDS CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING… ISSUED FOR SELECT AIRFIELDS CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING… High WindHigh Wind Freezing RainFreezing Rain SleetSleet Heavy SnowHeavy Snow Lightning Lightning Hail (greater than ¼ of an inch)Hail (greater than ¼ of an inch)

THRESHOLDS VARY AT EACH SITE THRESHOLDS VARY AT EACH SITE

AIRPORT WEATHER WARNING FOR XXX AIRPORT. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE XXX 130 PM EDT THU AUG 13 2009

SOUTH WINDS 30 KTS GUSTING 40 KTS...BEGINNING 200 PM...DECREASING AND SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST BY 500 PM

Aviation ClimatologyAviation Climatology• Allows the user to view graphs of climatological data for aviation-specific elements such as ceiling, visibility and flight category.

•Climate period for these graphs is 1973-2009

•OEP airfields are included.

•Please remember to disable pop-up blockers.

Available by visiting http://www.erh.noaa.gov/avnclimo/ Available by visiting http://www.erh.noaa.gov/avnclimo/

Center Weather Service UnitsCenter Weather Service Units

Mission:Mission:

Center Weather Service meteorologists provide weather Center Weather Service meteorologists provide weather support and consultation to FAA air traffic managers and support and consultation to FAA air traffic managers and controllers. controllers. Rerouting of aircraft around hazardous Rerouting of aircraft around hazardous weather is based largely on forecasts provided by weather is based largely on forecasts provided by CWSU meteorologistsCWSU meteorologists..

Northeast CWSU Locations

New York Center (ZNY) Boston Center (ZBW) Washington Center (ZDC) Cleveland Center (ZOB)

Map of FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers

CWSU ServicesCWSU Services

• In-Person forecast briefings In-Person forecast briefings to FAA traffic managers at en-route to FAA traffic managers at en-route centers…focused on short-term.centers…focused on short-term.

• Tele-conference forecast briefings Tele-conference forecast briefings to TRACONs, towers, and the FAA to TRACONs, towers, and the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center.Air Traffic Control System Command Center.

• Graphical Forecasts Graphical Forecasts of convection, icing, and compression outlooks for of convection, icing, and compression outlooks for airports and TRACON Gates. Available on web pages.airports and TRACON Gates. Available on web pages.

• Convection Forecasts Convection Forecasts and and SWAP statements SWAP statements (CWSU New York) (CWSU New York)

• TAF Collaboration TAF Collaboration with WFOs for OEP airports.with WFOs for OEP airports.

• Written Written short-term forecast statements and advisories short-term forecast statements and advisories (Meteorological (Meteorological Impact Statements and Center Weather Advisories).Impact Statements and Center Weather Advisories).

• Other products on Other products on web pagesweb pages!!

Graphical Web ForecastsGraphical Web Forecasts

Wind Speed Outlook for wind impacts below 7,000 feet.

Icing forecasts at TRACON Gates.

Convective ForecastsConvective Forecasts

New York TRACON Gate Thunderstorm Forecasts

New York Center Severe Weather Avoidance Plan (SWAP) Statement

SWAP IS EXPECTED AFTER 1800Z. SCT TS ARE EXPECTED TO DVLP OVER PORTIONS OF ERN PA…MD/DE AND VA AROUND 18Z WITH TOPS TO FL430. TS WILL MOVE EWD THRU LATE AFTN INTO THE EVENING OVER ERN ZNY/ZDC. DEVIATIONS ARE PSBL ON ALL JET ROUTES…J95 THRU J75…WITH GREATEST IMPACT XPCD ON J60 THRU J75 NEAR THE WEST GATES. WHITE-WAVEY DEPARTURES WILL LIKELY BE IMPACTED BY 20Z.

Weather BriefingsWeather Briefings

Washington ARTCC (KZDC)

Meteorological Impact Statement (MIS) ZDC MIS 01 VALID 051400-052000...FOR ATC PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY...

NEAR TERM IMPACTS...LGT-MOD ICE ICIP 040-FL180 MAINLY MD DE NJ...POSS INTO DC AND NRN VA. NW SFC WINDS INCRG 10-15 KT G25 KTESPECIALLY VA N INCLUDG DCA IAD BWI...CHC G30 KT...WITH MOD ISOL SEV TURB BLW 100. ..............................................

Weather Bulletins (not pictured)(AFDs, TAFs, TRACON forecasts, Vertical Wind Profile) for the following:New York City PhiladelphiaWashington D.C. ClevelandPittsburgh Detroit

Weather Briefing Sheet (see above) for ZBW, ZNY, and ZDC

AWC’s Area of Responsibility for Aviation Warnings AWC’s Area of Responsibility for Aviation Warnings (SIGMETs)(SIGMETs)

Forecast OperationsForecast Operations Domestic ProductsDomestic Products

SIGMETs – Aviation WarningsSIGMETs – Aviation Warnings AIRMETs – Aviation AdvisoriesAIRMETs – Aviation Advisories FA – Aviation Area ForecastFA – Aviation Area Forecast CCFP – National Airspace System Convective Planning ForecastCCFP – National Airspace System Convective Planning Forecast SIGWX Low – Significant Low-Level Aviation Graphic SIGWX Low – Significant Low-Level Aviation Graphic

International ProductsInternational Products Significant Weather (SIGWX) HighSignificant Weather (SIGWX) High

Global 24-hour High-Level ForecastsGlobal 24-hour High-Level Forecasts

Oceanic SIGMETsOceanic SIGMETs Aviation Warnings for Atlantic and PacificAviation Warnings for Atlantic and Pacific

FACA and FAGXFACA and FAGX Area Forecasts for the Caribbean and Gulf of MexicoArea Forecasts for the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Area Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Area ForecastsForecasts

SupportingSupporting– 4,000 Operating Oil Platforms4,000 Operating Oil Platforms– 30,000 personnel living on oil 30,000 personnel living on oil

platformsplatforms– 600 Helicopters600 Helicopters– 1.3 Million flights annually1.3 Million flights annually

Weather Forecasts Weather Forecasts primarily for Helicopter primarily for Helicopter OperationsOperations– CloudsClouds– VisibilityVisibility– ThunderstormsThunderstorms– Rain/FogRain/Fog– WindWind

World Area Forecast CenterWorld Area Forecast Center

AWC Is One Of Two World Area Forecast Centers (WAFC)AWC Is One Of Two World Area Forecast Centers (WAFC)– WAFC – WashingtonWAFC – Washington

AWC provides Significant Weather (SIGWX) Forecasts AWC provides Significant Weather (SIGWX) Forecasts NCEP Central Operations Provides Wind and NCEP Central Operations Provides Wind and

Temperature Grids ChartsTemperature Grids Charts NWS Telecommunications Gateway supports satellite NWS Telecommunications Gateway supports satellite

data broadcastsdata broadcasts World Area Forecast System (WAFS)World Area Forecast System (WAFS)

– Formulated by ICAO and the WMO Formulated by ICAO and the WMO – Improve the quality and consistency of en-route guidance Improve the quality and consistency of en-route guidance

provided for international aircraft operations across the provided for international aircraft operations across the GlobeGlobe

Operational Automated ProductsOperational Automated ProductsOperational Automated ProductsOperational Automated ProductsForecast Icing Potential (FIP)

Current Icing Product (CIP)

Graphical Turbulence Guidance (GTG)

National Convective Wx Forecast (NCWF)

Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)

A “QICP” WebsiteA “QICP” Website– Meets the FAA's reliability, Meets the FAA's reliability,

accessibility, and security accessibility, and security requirements for Qualified Internet requirements for Qualified Internet Communication Provider (QICP) Communication Provider (QICP) standards. standards.

– Operationally used by part 121 and Operationally used by part 121 and 135 operators135 operators

– http://aviationweather.gov/addshttp://aviationweather.gov/adds

Not just a display capabilityNot just a display capability Already has many NEXTGEN Already has many NEXTGEN

data service capabilitiesdata service capabilities ADDS joint developedADDS joint developed

NCAR, GSD, and AWCNCAR, GSD, and AWC

Operational 2003Operational 2003 Averaging 9Averaging 9 million hits per daymillion hits per day

ADDS makes available to the aviation community text, ADDS makes available to the aviation community text, digital and graphical forecasts, analyses, and digital and graphical forecasts, analyses, and observations of aviation-related weather variables.observations of aviation-related weather variables.

The EndThe End