AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM Friends and Partners NBAA

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM Friends and Partners NBAA 2003 Jo. Ann Y. Ford Manager, Aerospace Weather Standards Division, ARS-200 Aerospace Weather Policy and Standards Staff

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM ASOS Preplanned Product Improvements (P 3 I) (FAA Priorities) · Processor Upgrade · Dewpoint Sensor · Ice Free Wind Sensor · Enhance Precipitation Identification · Improve Ceilometer & Sensor Algorithms · Improve Visibility Sensors & Algorithms · All Weather Precipitation Accumulation Gauge (AWPAG) · Snow Depth/Accumulation Sensor (Non-funded requirement) 2

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM • FY 04 FAA allocation for ASOS P 3 I is $4 M - Total FY 04 baseline ASOS funding is $9. 125 M • FY 05 FAA allocation for ASOS P 3 I is $7. 5 M - Total FY 05 baseline ASOS funding is $12. 625 M 3

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM ACU Processor Upgrades • Performance Parameter – Increase processing speed and memory to improve performance and allow new sensor upgrades • Processor prerequisite to PI sensor deployments • 135 of 883 installed as of 9/30/03 • Resolved Key Issue: a few sites were experiencing FAA/ALDARS Comms problems; now releasing additional processors for installation; est. all processors installed by 12/31/03 4

ACU Processor Upgrade AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM NWS/FAA Current NWS Milestone Baseline 5

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM ASOS PI – Dewpoint Sensor l Phased deployment paced by ACU processor and FAA funding · 356 of 883 sites approved for phased deployment · 38 sites currently operating · 405 sensors delivered in 2002; 280 additional ordered September 2003 · Sensor performance to date is excellent 6

Dewpoint Sensor AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM NWS/FAA Current NWS Milestone Baseline 7

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM ASOS PI Ice Free Wind Sensor Improvement Description • Ultrasonic sensor – No moving parts • 0 to 125 knot range • 1 knot, 1 degree resolution • Accuracy + 2 knots/3% speed, + 4 degrees direction • Controlled heating of transducers • Selectable 1 -30 second averaging – ASOS to use 5 second speed, WMO Standard 3 second gust • Manufacturer - Vaisala 8

Ice Free Wind Sensor AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM NWS/FAA Current NWS Milestone Baseline 9

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM ASOS PI – Enhanced Precipitation Identifier • Contracts awarded July 11 to Optical Scientific and Vaisala for both COTS evaluation and development phases • Deployment begins December 2005 ASOS PI – Ceilometer Replacement l l Acquisition plan, statement of work, specification in preparation l Solicitation to be issued by October 2003 l Contract awards for COTS evaluation phase to be made by June 2004 Deployment begins August 2006 10

Enhanced Precipitation Identifier AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM NWS/FAA Current NWS Milestone Baseline 11

Ceilometer Replacement AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM NWS/FAA Current NWS Milestone Baseline 12

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM ASOS Configuration Control Board (ACCB) Initiatives (not all-inclusive list) · Change thunderstorm reporting range thresholds for SPECIs · Freezing drizzle algorithm · Connect NWS ASOS sites to ADAS for ITWS · Modify pressure sensor yes/no prompt · Delete RVRNO code 13

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM Automated Weather Sensor Developments · ALDARS Installation • ASOS RVR Modification · ASOS-ATIS Interface · Stand Alone Weather Sensors (SAWS) 14

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM Friends and Partners Initiatives General Discussion · SPECI transmission anytime – testing will be completed at initial sites in December 2003; deployment to all 883 sites will take several months · AOP/AAF-1 letter was signed; ADAS integration into National Airspace Performance Reporting System (NAPRS) · ASOS Internet availability · Perceived Tower and SFC VSBY Discrepancies version 0. 05 15