National Weather Service &General AviationEAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.) NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services& National Weather Service Director*Americas Weather Enterprise: Protecting Lives, Livelihoods, and Your Way of Life

"Good" Weather?

Provide climate, water, weather forecasts and warnings to protect life and property and enhance the economy76 billion observations4 million aviation forecasts68,127 aviation warnings

A Typical Year Brings: 7 Hurricanes1,000 Tornadoes5,000 Floods10,000 Violent ThunderstormsDrought Conditions500 Deaths; 5,000 Injuries; $14 Billion in LossesThe Nations RisksExtreme Climate, Weather, and Water

NWS OverviewMinutesHoursDays6 10 Days8 14 DaysMonthsSeasonsYearsForecast UncertaintyProtection ofLife & PropertyHydropowerRecreationEcosystemState/LocalPlanningEnvironmentFlood Mitigation& NavigationAgricultureReservoirControlHealthSpace OperationsFire WeatherEnergyOutlooksGuidanceThreats AssessmentsForecastsWatchesWarnings & Alert CoordinationForecast Lead TimeBenefitsSeamless Suite of ProductsAviation/Transportation

NWSs Aviation Services Facilities

NWSs Aviation Services National Centers for Environmental PredictionHydrometeorological Prediction CenterCENTRALSpace Environment CenterStorm Prediction CenterClimate Prediction CenterOcean Prediction CenterTropical Prediction CenterEnvironmental Modeling CenterPOERATIONSAviation Weather CenterAviation Weather Center

NWSs Aviation Services Aviation Weather Center

NWSs Aviation Services CWSU & ARTCC

NWSs Aviation ServicesExtensive Observation System

Discipline Specific ViewWhole System ViewAtmospheric ObservationsLand Surface ObservationsOcean ObservationsSpace Observations

NWSs Aviation Services Doppler Radars

NWSs Aviation Services ASOS Sites

NWSs Aviation ChallengesWeather & Traffic DensityQUIZ

NWSs Aviation ChallengesWeather & Traffic DensitySource: FAA

NWSs Aviation ServicesThe FutureA. Joint Planning & Development Office & Next Generation Air Transportation System B. NWS Aviation Service Improvement EffortsWe are working to overcome these challenges.

NWSs Aviation ServicesThe FutureA.Joint Planning & Development Office & Next Generation Air Transportation System

B. NWS Aviation Service ImprovementsImproved NWS Aviation OperationsNew Observations CapabilitiesNew Products and Services New Training & AvailabilityNWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

1. Improved NWS Aviation OperationsImprove end-to-end forecast processRight concentration of people and technologyDevelop relevant products Improve dissemination Integrate research/development and trainingAccelerate science improvements to operations Improve Aviation Weather Program managementAt all levels..NWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

1. Improved NWS Aviation OperationsPilot ProjectDecision Aid ProductsWhats the impact of weather on operations?End-to-end forecast processRemote briefings support on-demand info. needsHuman interaction with automated techniquesNWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

2. New Observations CapabilitiesNew water vapor observations from aircraftPlan to add 50 sensors this yearFY 2007 (requested) 125 additional sensorsFraction of cost compared to rawindsondeProvides offset to enable funding of 4D databaseNWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

3. New Products & ServicesDecision Aids (DA) are developed through understanding the user and their needs. DAs Create consistency for multiple users.DAs Allow users to interpret weather information at a glance.DAs Concisely depict impacts to operations.NWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

Ceiling and Visibility (Graphical AIRMET Sierra)IFR CeilingIFR VisibilityMountain Obscuration Icing (Graphical AIRMET Zulu)Moderate IcingFreezing Level Height(s)Turbulence (Graphical AIRMET Tango)Moderate TurbulenceNon-convective Low-level wind shearSustained surface wind greater than 30 knotsNWSs Aviation Services The Future3. New Products & Services

3. New Products & Services Short Range Ensemble Forecast System (SREF)NWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

NWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future3. New Products & Services

3. New Products & Services 4D Digital Database* is key for NGATS (by 2012)NWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

4. Improved Training & AvailabilityIn-House:Online Aviation Operations CourseRegional/National Aviation WorkshopsDLAC1 - Low Cloud & Fog ForecastingImpact of Weather on Air Traffic Management ModuleAOPA Pilot Weather Training NWSs Aviation ServicesThe Future

NWSs Aviation ServicesTraining Tools: Partners W/ AOPA http://flash.aopa.org/asf/wxwise_thunder/

Your Voice!

Your Help!Your Role NWSs Future Aviation ServicesYour Help + NWS Situational Awareness=Safe Flight Plan

Total NOAA Request: $3.684 billionTotal NWS Request: $881.9M Aviation Weather Increase: $1.2M

NWSs Aviation ServicesFY07 Budget Request