CHAPTER 1

AVIATION WEATHER SERVICES

Advisory Circular, AC 00-45

CHAPTER 1

AVIATION WX SERVICE PROGRAM

3 sources for wx
1. National Wx Service
2. Department of Defense
3. Federal Aviation Administration

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA
NOAA is under the Department of Commerce
Conducts research and gathers data about the global oceans, atmosphere, space, and sun, and applies this knowledge to science and service which touch the lives of all Americans
Under NOAA is the NWS

National Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS)

This outfit supports the NWS by providing satellite data
They are basically a clearing house for all the satellite data that comes in

National Wx Service NWS

Collects and analyzes meteorological and hydrological data and prepares forecasts on a national, hemispheric, and global scale.
Provides weather data, forecasts and warnings

National Wx Service NWS

NWS has ten separate National Weather Service Offices each with its own mission.

National Wx Service NWS

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)
All global meteorology data is collected and analyzed by these guys
There are 9 district centers under the NCEP umbrella

–NCEP Central Operations

–Aviation Weather Center

–Weather Prediction Center

–Storm Prediction Center

–National Hurricane Center

–Space Weather Prediction Center

–Alaskan Aviation Weather Unit

–Center Weather Service Unit

–Weather Forecast Office

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC)

Located in Kansas City, Missouri
Issues warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous weather for aviation interests.
Identifies existing or imminent weather hazards to aircraft in flight and creates warnings for transmission to the aviation community.
www.aviationweather.gov

AVIATION WEATHER CENTER (AWC)

They produce

–(AIRMET) Airman’s Meteorological Information

–Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET), and Convective SIGMETs) for the contiguous 48 states

–Significant Weather Prog Charts (low, middle, and high)

–National Convective Weather Forecast

–Current Icing Product

–Forecast Icing Product

–Graphical Turbulence Guidance

–Ceiling and Visibility Analysis

WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE (WFO) NWS

Issues various public and aviation forecast and weather warnings.
Issue (TAFs) Terminal Aviation Forecasts
Some issue Airport Weather Warnings, and Soaring Forecasts
In Guam and Hawaii also issue AIRMETS AND SIGMETS and route forecasts.

WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE (WFO)

The Alaskan and Hawaiian branches do more than the normal WFO
The Alaskan Weather Unit (AAWU) issues its own SIGMETs, AIRMETs, Graphical FAs and Sig Prog Charts
In Hawaii, same type of setup in addition though they are the Pacific Hurricane Center
FAA
Aviation services are provided for pilots through various facilities

–Air Traffic Control Systems Command Center

–Air Route Traffic Control Center

–Airport Traffic Control Tower

–Terminal Radar Approach Control

–Flight Service Stations

FAA

While the FAA is in control of the (FSSs) Flight Service Stations
Leidos took over the FSS duties as a private contractor
3 hub locations in Leesburg Va, Fort Worth Tx, and Prescott Az
The FSS provides more aviation weather service than any other government outlet.

FSS

Provide pilot weather briefings
En route weather
Receive and process IFR and VFR flight plans
Relay ATC clearances
Issue Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
They also provide assistance to lost aircraft and aircraft in emergency situations, and conduct VFR search and rescue services

SAFETY/Briefings

The PIC is responsible for ensuring he/she has all the information needed to make a safe flight.
https ://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website /#!/
1-800-wx brief
These count as “Official” briefings

WX BRIEFINGS

3 types:

–1. Standard

–2. Abbreviated

–3. Outlook

Online briefings are archived for 15 days
Voice briefing recordings are retained for 45 days

BRIEFINGS

List of facts to give briefer for a briefing (pg1-6 para1.3.1):
#1. Standard, Abbreviated, or Outlook briefing
#2. VFR or IFR
#3. Aircraft ID and Type
#4. Departure point
#5. ETD
#6. Altitude
#7. Route
#8. Destination
#9. ETE
Memorize these

WX BRIEFING

1. Standard Briefing
When the full wx picture is desired
So what should you expect to get?

WX BRIEFING

Adverse conditions
VFR flight not recommended
Weather synopsis
Current Wx
En Route Forecast
Destination Forecast
Winds and Temps Aloft
NOTAMS
Prohibited and Special Flight Rules Areas
ATC Delays
Other Information

WX BRIEFING

2. Abbreviated Briefing
Briefer needs to know when your last briefing took place so no omissions
Designed to supplement an earlier briefing
User must request
Questions about reports and so forth
Request specific info

WX BRIEFING

3. Outlook
Provided when departure is 6 hours or more in the future
Very general
Follow up this one with a standard brief closer to departure time

WHAT SHOULD YOU GET???

Current conditions at current location and destination – METAR
Forecast wx at current location and destination – TAF
Enroute wx
Winds Aloft
Notams

SELF BRIEFINGS

1800wxbrief.com is a complete and official wx briefing

–You need to create an account

–https://www.1800wxbrief.com/Website /#!/

For quick and easy info visit Aviation Weather . gov

–https://www.aviationweather.gov

Be aware this is not an official briefing
There is no official log of your briefing
Could be a major drawback if you have a problem in flight

TELEPHONE INFORMATION BRIEFING SERVICE (TIBS)

Is provided by Automated FSSs and provides continuous telephone recordings of meteorological and/or aeronautical information.
TIBS shall contain area and or route briefings, airspace procedures, and special announcements, if applicable
Should also contain METARs, TAFs and winds aloft (normally a feature with 1-800 wx brief (say TIBS instead of briefer or press 3)

TELEPHONE INFORMATION BRIEFING SERVICE (TIBS)

Provides at least 4 route and/ or area briefings.
Should also encompass a 50 NM radius.
Provided 24 hours a day.
Recordings are updated as conditions change. Or when ever the material is updated.
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A BRIEFING

HIWAS

Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service (HIWAS)
Broadcasted over navaids (certain VORs)
Continuous broadcast of inflight weather advisories such as SIGMETs, AIRMETs, and urgent PIREPs
Broadcast over a defined area within 150 NM of HIWAS outlets. 24 hours a day
An announcement will be made if there are no hazardous weather advisories.

HIWAS

The broadcast includes –
A statement of introduction including the appropriate areas and recording time
A summary of inflight weather advisories
A request for PIREPs
A recommendation to contact FSS for additional details concerning the hazardous weather.

HIWAS

Once a HIWAS broadcast is updated, an announcement will be made once on all communication/NAVAID frequencies except emergency, and EN Route Flight Advisory Service.
Look on your sectional for participating NAVAIDs

Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B)

Ground based information through the ADS-B UAT network

Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B)

This service provides textual and graphical wx products right to your cockpit
Text: METAR and SPECI;
Text: PIREP;
Text: Winds and Temperatures Aloft;
Text: TAF;
Text: NOTAM Distant and Flight Data Center;
Text/Graphic: AIRMET;
Text/Graphic: SIGMET;
Text/Graphic: Convective SIGMET;
Text/Graphic: SUA;
Text/Graphic: TFR NOTAM; and
Graphic: Next generation weather radar (NEXRAD) Composite Reflectivity Products (Regional and National).
Pretty much all the good stuff – free

Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B)

Update Intervals

ADS-B

Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast
Need a data link in your plane to use this
A/C ID, position, altitude and velocity once a second are broadcast to ATC
Can get Wx and other junk though this
Wave of the future

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