CHAPTER 1
Chapter 2
AVIATION WEATHER SERVICES
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
OTHER ALPHABET GROUPS
Weather Prediction Center (WPC)
Storm Prediction Center (SPC)
National Hurricane Center (NHC)
Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU)
Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU)
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 Weather Camera Program
Types of Wx Info
Observations
Raw weather data collected by sensors
Analysis
Wx info that has been enhanced or interpreted
Forecasts
Prediction of wx including:
TAF
AIRMETS
SIGMETS
Center Wx Advisories
Meteorological Impact Statements
Aviation Weather Sources
Federal Government
This includes the FAA and NWS
The Feds are not the only source for wx information anymore
Commercial Wx Information Providers under contract
A FAA approved source of wx dudes
Like Lockheed Martin and DUATS
Must follow technical and quality assurance standards
Commercial Wx Information Providers
Repackage the wx
Use caution when using
Products are not under FAA/NWS control
Chapter 3
Overview of Aviation Weather Information
Product Latency
Latency is the age of the product
Pay attention to valid times
AWOS and ASOS may be relatively short, 3 minutes or so
NEXRAD may be relatively long at 5 to 15 minutes
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 (pg3-2,3 para3.3.1):
#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
Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B)
Ground based information through the ADS-B UAT network
Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B)
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 info though this
Wave of the future
Weather Products versus Weather Elements and Phenomena
Table 3-1. High-Level Overview of Select Weather Products and Select Weather Elements and Phenomena that are of Interest to Aviation Users (See Table 3-3 for acronyms and abbreviations.)