AN OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AVIATION PRODUCTS

AN OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AVIATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 2018 Mississippi Airports Association Annual Conference Thomas Winesett Meteorologist/Aviation Focal Point – National Weather Service Forecast Office Jackson MS

OVERVIEW OF TOPICS Weather related aviation accident statistics National Meteorological Watch Offices (MWOs) Regional Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) Local Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) Flight category climatology of select Mississippi airports

WEATHER RELATED ACCIDENT STATISTICS • Fultz, A. J. , and Ashley, W. S. (2016): Fatal Weather-Related General Aviation Accidents in the United States • Used NTSB accident data from 1982 – 2013 • General aviation produced 83% of all aviation related fatalities • Weather was a cause or contributing factor for 25% of the general aviation accidents and 35% of fatal accidents • Most common causes are wind, visibility, low ceilings, and high density altitude • Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) account for 20% of accidents but are responsible for 60% of all fatalities

WEATHER RELATED ACCIDENT STATISTICS Weather-related accidents continue to decline, however at a rate 2. 57 times slower compared to all general aviation accidents.

WEATHER RELATED ACCIDENT STATISTICS • Ceiling, visibility, and precipitation are most deadly hazard; account for 27% of weather-related accidents but 71% of fatalities • VFR flights into IMCs • Temperature, humidity and pressure (primarily density altitude and icing) account for 20% of weather-related accidents and 18% of fatalities

WEATHER RELATED ACCIDENT STATISTICS • Wind (gusts, crosswinds, tailwinds) is the most common cause of weather-related accidents (57%) but accounts for only 15% of fatalities • Turbulence and convective weather cause the fewest accidents (8% combined) and 18% of fatalities, however 65% of convective weather events are fatal • Pilots have become more aware of thunderstorm hazards

WEATHER RELATED ACCIDENT STATISTICS

WEATHER RELATED ACCIDENT STATISTICS Mississippi ranks 41 st in fatal weather-related accidents per 100, 000 annual flight hours (1999 -2013). Top 5 states are Wyoming, West Virginia, Utah, Colorado and Vermont.

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) “The Aviation Weather Center delivers consistent, timely, and accurate weather information to the world airspace system. We are a team of highly skilled people dedicated to working with customers and partners to enhance safe and efficient flight. ” “To be the trusted authority and leading innovator for aviation weather information. ” • One of three U. S. MWOs providing weather information to the National Airspace System (NAS) • Located in Kansas City, MO

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) CONUS • 2 convective desks • 3 area forecast desks International • 1 area forecast desk • 2 global graphics desks A look at the AWC operations area

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) AWC Products: • Airman’s Meteorological Information (AIRMETs) • Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMETs) • Convective SIGMETs • Area Forecasts (FAs) – outside of CONUS only • Significant Weather Prognostic Charts (low, middle, and high) • Collaborative Convective Forecast Product (CCFP) • National Convective Weather Forecast (NCWF) • Current Icing Product (CIP) • Forecast Icing Product (FIP) • Graphical Turbulence Guidance (GFG) • Ceiling and Visibility Product (CVA)

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC)

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) Graphical AIRMETs

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) Graphical SIGMETs

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) Significant weather prognostic charts

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) Current and forecast icing

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) Graphical Turbulence Guidance

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC) Ceiling and Visibility Display

ADDITIONAL MWOS Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) • Responsible for FAs, AIRMETs, and SIGMETs for the Anchorage Flight Information Region (FIR) • Serves as the Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Honolulu Forecast Office (HFO) • Maintains meteorological watch and issues aviation forecasts across over 8 million square miles of the central and western Pacific Ocean

CENTER WEATHER SERVICE UNITS (CWSU) • 21 CWSUs co-located with Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) • Provide face-to-face weather briefings for air traffic controllers • Issue Center Weather Advisories (CWAs), Meteorological Impact Statements (MISs), and other products

CWSU – MEMPHIS, TN

CENTER WEATHER SERVICE UNITS (CWSU) Center Weather Advisories (CWAs) • Short term weather warnings (2 hours or less) that describe hazardous conditions not contained within national AIRMETs or SIGMETs

CENTER WEATHER SERVICE UNITS (CWSU) Meteorological Impact Statements (MISs) CWSU Washington DC CWSU Salt Lake City CWSU Cleveland • Free form product that details weather conditions expected to adversely impact air traffic flow out to 12 hours

WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES (WFOS)

WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES (WFOS) NWS WFO Jackson Area of Responsibility

WFO JACKSON MS WFO Aviation Products • Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) • WFO Jackson – KGLH, KGWO, KGTR, KHKS, KJAN, KMEI, KHBG • WFO Memphis – KTUP • WFO New Orleans – KMCB, KGPT • Aviation Forecast Discussion • Airport Weather Warnings (KJAN only)

WFO JACKSON MS NWS WFO Jackson Aviation Website

WFO JACKSON MS TAFs • Issued every 6 hours - 0 z, 6 z, 12 z, and 18 z • Valid for the following 24 hours • Forecast for wind speed and direction, visibility, ceiling, and sensible weather • Most detail confined to the first 6 hours • Useful for flight planning

WFO JACKSON MS

WFO JACKSON MS Airport Weather Warnings • • Issued only for KJAN For high impact weather within 5 miles Wind gusts of 30 kts or more Frequent gusty cross winds of 25 kts or more Strong vertical wind shear within 1, 500’ of the ground Winter weather Tornadoes

WFO JACKSON MS Aviation Forecast Discussion

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY KJAN January Ceiling and Visibility Flight Category Climatology

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY KJAN June Ceiling and Visibility Flight Category Climatology

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY KHBG January Ceiling and Visibility Flight Category Climatology

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY KHBG June Ceiling and Visibility Flight Category Climatology

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY KMEI January Ceiling and Visibility Flight Category Climatology

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY KMEI June Ceiling and Visibility Flight Category Climatology

FLIGHT CATEGORY CLIMATOLOGY Know your local airport geography!

CONTACT INFORMATION • • • Local WFOs staffed 24 x 7 x 365 WFO Jackson: 601 -939 -2786 WFO Memphis: 901 -544 -0399 WFO New Orleans: 504 -522 -7330 Email: thomas. winesett@noaa. gov

Questions?