FriendsPartners Aviation Wx Panel 2 Progress In Weather

Friends/Partners Aviation Wx - Panel #2 Progress In Weather Observations Date: 08 Oct 2003 Tom Fahey, 2003 ATA Meteorology Committee Industry Chair

ATA Meteorology Committee • 2003 Work Plan – – MDCRS Management Team Wx Data Access via Public Internet Reduce Operational Limitations due to Wx Obs & Fcsts Airport Specific TAF Initiative Acronyms MDCRS (Meteorological Data Collecting & Reporting System) QICP (Qualified Internet Communications Provider)

MDCRS • What is MDCRS? – Meteorological Data Collecting & Reporting System – Automated Wx Info from AA, DL, FDX, NW, UAL & UPS a/c given to NWS. – Originated in late 1980’s in effort to improve flight plan wind fcsts • What is the MDCRS Management Team – Effort by NWS, FAA & Participating Airlines To Improve the System Vision An affordable automated collection & dissemination system of aircraft provided meteorological observations to support the nations complete atmospheric sensing strategy & meet the needs of the aviation industry. Goals • Cost Share • Standardize • Variables • Available • Optimize • Usable

Wx Data Access via Internet • ATA Met. Committee Position re QICP (Developed 02 Apr 03 at Spring Meeting) “All Aviation Weather Products to be: -Accessible to the users via the public internet in a manner approved by FAA or -Via an alternative communications method. ” • NWS Announced “No Plans to Become QICP” (ATA Met Com 11 April 2003 Response to NWS) “The airlines are very interested in the results of NWS's further research with the FAA to determine the specific level of effort necessary by the NWS to comply to QICP status. ATA Met Com hopes that this research determines that the NWS can be a QICP soon. ATA Met Com very much looks forward to learning the results of your study and are holding off any further comments until that work is complete. ”

Operational Limitations Due to Wx Products & Obs • ATA Met Com Focus Items – Weather Products [Russ Gold covering in detail] • Testing & Policies for Developmental Wx Products – Development w/ input from users regarding operational impact • Airport Specific TAFs – Policies for Weather Observations • Added Focus Required on Transition from NWS to FAA – e. g. Concern Regarding Visibility Observation Standards • Concern regarding other observations

Ops Limitations Due to Wx Observations • Discrepancy Btwn Tower & Sfc Visibility – FAA has replaced NWS as agency responsible for manual Obs After the ASOS produces automated observations The ASOS observation can be augmented manually by 2 separate groups: FAA Contract Observers or FAA Tower Controllers. – FAA & NWS Definition of Visibility Standards Differ FAA 7900. 5 Sfc Wx Observing “Visibilty may be determined at either the surface, the tower level or both. … If visibility observations are made from both levels, the lower value (if less than 4 miles) shall be reported as prevailing visibility in the main body of the METAR, and the other value shall be a remark…. ” – Observation Discrepancies Have Occurred as Result Ex 1: Manually inputted visibility by Tower personnel not updated. Result: METAR Main Body contains old, lower, not representative value. Ex 2: Manually inputted visibility observed @ tower height in stratus Result: METAR Main Body contains value for 200+ft abv sfc. < than sfc.

Discrepancy Btwn Tower & Sfc Vis (cont. ) • Impact on Operations – METAR Main Body • Traditionally used either 100% Surface or 100% Tower Level Vis. • Including Vis Values 200 ft or more abv sfc @ a site which normally reports vis from the surface level results in: – An inconsistent METAR observation when tower is in the clouds – Results in a TAF with more restrictive vis when tower is in clouds This Results in: • User Confusion • Potential for unnecessary added limitations on operations • Proposed Solution - Limit Tower Vis to Remarks section at Stns where Visibility is normally observed at the surface level.

Ops Limitations Due to Wx Observation (cont) • Airport Measurements Unavailable – Snowfall (Hourly & Total Snowfall Amount & Water Equivalent. ) (ICAO SNOWTAM format in the US) – Freezing Drizzle – Cloud Ceilings above 12, 000 feet (Not Available @ Level C airports) • Airport Measurements Inaccurate – Wind Shear – Wind Direction (Digital ATIS incorrectly reporting true rather than magnetic)

Progress in Wx Observations ATA Meteorology Committee Criteria Issue Included • Level of Negative impact on Operations (safety & efficiency) w/in last yr 2003 Grading • Was progress made by industry & gov’t resolving w/in last yr Issue -PIREPS -FAA Sfc Wx Obs -METAR Availability -Snowfall & FZing Drizzle -Volcanic Ash -Turbulence -Wind Shear Alerts -Digital ATIS Winds 2003 Grading Significant Progress New Focus (Vis Standards) Progress Slight Progress No Progress