1. Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron Aviation Weather Services Lt Richard Jessop C/CMSgt William Hughes

2. Who Provides Wx Services?  Weather service is combined effort of: –National Weather Service (NWS) –The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) –The Department of Defense (DoD) –Other aviation groups –Individuals (e.g., pilots) –Foreign weather organizations

3. 3 Types of Weather Observations  Surface  Upper Air  Radar

4. Surface Aviation Wx Observations  Surface Wx Observation Collection –Manned ground stations across the US –Automated weather sources  AWOS (Automated Weather Observing Stations)  ASOS (Automated Surface Observing Systems)  Reports can be received in-flight by radio –Information includes:  Type of report (standard or special)  Station identifier  Date/time  Wind direction and speed  Visibility  Wx phenomena (snow, rain, …)  Sky condition  Temperature/dew point  Altimeter  Applicable remarks –Problems with the report is that it local and is surface (possibly not accurate for a pilot at 20,000 feet and 20 NM away from the station

5. Upper Air Observations  2 methods by which upper air phenomena can be observed: –Radiosonde (sonde is French for probe) –Pilot

6. Radiosonde  Use radio telemetry  Temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind data for heights above 100,000 ft  Problem when the balloon bursts and the package freefalls

7. Pilot Wx Report: PIREP  Pilots are the only real-time source of information regarding turbulence, icing, and cloud heights (bases and tops).  Pilots file in-flight, radio reports in a very specific format to wx officials.  If you are flying in an airline and the pilot warns of the possibility of wx problems, chances are she got the information from a PIREP.

8. Radar Observations  3 types of radar that provide information about precipitation, wind, and weather systems –NEXRAD (Doppler radar)  Long range –FAA terminal doppler wx radar (TDWR)  Close range –FAA airport surveillance radar (ASR)  Used primarily to detect aircraft but also detects precipitation

9. Service Outlets  We now know who collects wx info and how they collect it.  How is that information disseminated?  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Weather Service (NWS) work in conjunction with private companies to provide different means of accessing the information.

10. FAA Flight Service Station (FSS)

11. Transcribed Information Briefing Services (TIBS)

12. Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS)

13. Enroute Flight Advisory Service (EFAS)

14. Hazardous In-Flight Wx Advisory (HIWAS)

15. Transcribed Wx Broadcast (TWEB)

16. Wx Briefings  Standard Briefing  Abbreviated Briefing  Outlook Briefing

17. Aviation Wx Reports and Forecasts  There is a difference between a report and a forecast: –A report is designed to give accurate depictions of current wx conditions. –A forecast is designed to give depictions of predicted wx conditions.  There are many types of reports and forecasts available to pilots.  We will focus on 3: –METAR –TAF –ATIS

18. Aviation Wx Report: METAR

19. Aviation Wx Forecast: TAF

20. Aviation Wx Report: ATIS  ATIS stands for Automatic Terminal Information Service.  ATIS is a continuous broadcast of recorded noncontrol information in busier terminal (i.e. airport) areas. ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as wx information, which runways are active, available approaches, and any other information required by the pilots.  The recording is usually updated every hour and is identified by a phonetic letter.

21. An Actual ATIS Report  We will listen to the current ATIS broadcast for KCOS (frequency: 125.0 MHz or telephone number (719) 596-7040  Listen for the following in the broadcast: –The airport name –The identifier –Date/time –Wind direction and speed –Temperature/dew point –Altimeter setting –Runways in use –Sky condition –Visibility –Wx phenomena –NOTAMs

22. Summary  Current and forecasted wx information is vital to a safe flight.  There is a tremendous infrastructure to collect and disseminate this information.  Consider: it is not just restricted to airmen but can be a valuable source of information for ground teams!