ENROUTE WEATHER SOURCES OBJECTIVES

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ENROUTE WEATHERSOURCESOBJECTIVES

• Enroute Weather Information Sources Available to
  Pilots

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Enroute Weather InformationReview

• ASOS Automated Surface Observation System
• AWOS Automated Weather Observing System
• ATIS Automatic Terminal Information Service
• FAA EFAS Enroute Flight Advisory Service
• FAA (FSS) Pilot-to-Weather Briefer Service
• FAA Weather Broadcasts
• TWEB Transcribed Weather Broadcast
• HIWAS Hazardous In flight Weather Advisory
  Service
• PMSV Pilot-to-Metro Service
• SIGMETS AIRMETS
• ARTCC
• Center Weather Advisory

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Automated systems

• ASOS
• AWOS
• FMQ-19 Automated Weather Observing System,
  Machine

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Automated systems
ATIS/ASOS/AWOS. In-flight weather information
obtained from ATIS and ASOS/AWOS broadcasts can
contribute useful pieces to the en route weather
picture, but it is important to understand that
this information is only a weather snapshot of
a limited area.
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Automated systems
ATIS and ASOS/AWOS broadcasts are primarily
intended to provide information on conditions in
the airport vicinity. The information reported
is derived from an array of sensors. While these
systems are designed to be as accurate as
possible and are increasingly sophisticated, the
automated system is actually monitoring only a
very small area on the airfield and that it
reports only what it can "see."
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Automated systems
For example, sensors that measure visibility
are actually measuring a section of air less than
24 inches wide. Even a dense fog on a portion of
the airfield will go undetected by the system
unless the fog actually obscures the sensors. The
system will not see an approaching thunderstorm
until it is almost directly over the automated
sites ceiling instrument
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Wind Speed/Direction
Typical ASOS Station
Present Weather Identifier (LEDWI)
Visibility Sensor
Temp/Dew point
DCU
Ceilometer
Rain gauge
Lightning Sensor
Freezing Rain Sensor
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ASOS Automated Surface Observation System

• Primary surface weather observing system in the
  US
• Will provide continuous minute-by-minute
  observations and perform functions necessary to
  generate an aviation routine weather report
• 1700 systems in use
• Information transmitted over discrete VHF or over
  voice portion of the local NAVAID

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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
The Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS)
program is a joint effort of the National Weather
Service (NWS), the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), and the Department of
Defense (DOD). The ASOS systems serves as the
nation's primary surface weather observing
network. ASOS is designed to support weather
forecast activities and aviation operations and,
at the same time, support the needs of the
meteorological, hydrological, and climatological
research communities.
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
A basic strength of ASOS is that critical
aviation weather parameters are measured where
they are needed most airport runway touchdown
zone(s).
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
ASOS detects significant changes, disseminating
hourly and special observations via the networks.
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
ASOS routinely and automatically provides
computer-generated voice observations directly to
aircraft in the vicinity of airports, using VHF
radio.
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
ASOS transmits a special report when conditions
exceed pre-selected weather element thresholds,
e.g., the visibility decreases to less than 3
miles.
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
Reports basic weather elements Sky
conditioncloud height and amount (clear,
scattered, broken, overcast) up to 12,000 feet
Visibility (to at least 10 statute miles)
Basic present weather information type and
intensity for rain, snow, and freezing rain
Obstructions to vision fog, haze Pressure
sea-level pressure, altimeter setting Ambient
temperature, dew point temperature
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
Reports basic weather elements Wind direction,
speed and character (gusts, squalls)
Precipitation accumulation Selected
significant remarks including- variable cloud
height, variable visibility, precipitation
beginning/ending times, rapid pressure changes,
pressure change tendency, wind shift, peak wind.
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ASOS Automated Surface Observing Systems
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION Every ASOS contains the
following Cloud Height IndicatorVisibility
SensorPrecipitation Identifier SensorPressure
SensorsTemperature/Dew-Point SensorWind
direction/speed sensor Rainfall Accumulation
SensorFreezing Rain Sensors included at most
sites
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AWOS Automated Weather Observing System
What is an AWOS? A suite of sensors, which
measure, collect and disseminate weather data to
help meteorologists, pilots and flight
dispatchers prepare and monitor weather
forecasts, plan flight routes, and provide
necessary information for correct takeoffs and
landings.
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AWOS Automated Weather Observing System
What is an AWOS?There are six standard
categories of Automated Weather Observing
Systems, and a limitless number of customized
weather stations AWOS I Wind speed, wind gust,
wind direction, variable wind direction,
temperature, dew point, altimeter setting,
density altitude.AWOS II AWOS I visibility,
and variable visibility.AWOS III AWOS II sky
condition, and cloud height and type.AWOS III-P
AWOS III present weather, and precipitation
identification.AWOS III-T AWOS III
thunderstorm and lightning detection.AWOS
III-P-T AWOS III present weather, and
lightning detection.
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Difference between ASOS AWOS
The basic difference between ASOS and AWOS is
that ASOS generally comprises a standard suite of
weather sensors that have all been procured from
one contractor, whereas AWOS is a suite of
weather sensors of many different configurations
that were either procured by the FAA or purchased
by individuals, groups, or airports that are
required to meet FAA standards to be able to
report weather parameters.
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FMQ-19Fixed-based weather sensing systems
Unit consists of eight sensors, which monitor
winds, present weather conditions, visibility,
ambient light, temperature, lightening, rain, and
cloud height. The secondary sensor, placed at the
other end of the runway, measures visibility,
cloud height and wind, the weather conditions
most likely to change from one end of a runway to
the other, according to Captain Collins.The
sensor data is continuously gathered by a Field
Data Collection Unit and sent to a Terminal Data
Acquisition Unit, which translates the raw
weather data into usable weather information,
providing local weather units with a near
real-time weather picture.
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AWOS-3 Information
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ATISAutomatic Terminal Information Service

• ATIS frequencies can be found in the IFR
  Supplement and on the Approach Plate
• The absence of a sky condition/ceiling and or
  visibility on ATIS indicates a sky
  condition/ceiling 5000 and visibility of 5
  miles or more
• The rest STANDARD

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PMSV
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FAA EFASEnroute Flight Advisory ServiceFlight
Watch

• A service specifically designed to provide
  enroute aircraft with timely and meaningful
  weather advisories pertinent to type of flight
  intended, route of flight and altitude.
• Is also a central collection and distribution
  point for PIREPS
• Normally available in the US and Puerto Rico from
  0600 2200 hrs

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EFASEnroute Flight Advisory Service

• Contact FLIGHT WATCH
• From 5000AGL to 17,500 MSL on 122.0 MHz
• FL 180 FL 450 see your IFR Enroute High Alt
  Chart for frequencies
• HOUSTON FLIGHT WATCH EXXON 31, EAGLE LAKE
  V-O-R, OVER

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FAA EFASEnroute Flight Advisory Service
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FAA (FSS) Pilot-to-Weather Briefer Service

• Flight Service Specialists are qualified and
  certified by the NWS as pilot weather briefers
• They are not authorized to make original
  forecasts, but are authorized to translate and
  interpret the available forecasts and reports
  directly into terms of weather conditions that a
  pilot might expect along their route of flight or
  destination

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FAA (FSS)
FSS Freqs
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FAA Weather Broadcasts TWEB Transcribed Weather
Broadcast

• Aeronautical data recorded on tapes and broadcast
  continuously over selected NAVAIDS and VORs
• NWS Forecasts, NOTAMs, in-flight advisories,
  winds aloft, select current information and
  special notices

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FAA Weather Broadcasts HIWAS Hazardous
In-flight Weather Advisory Service

• A continuous broadcast of in-flight weather
  advisories on VOR frequencies including
  summarized Severe Weather Forecast alerts,
  SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETS, Center Weather
  Advisories, AIRMETS and PIREPS

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HIWAS Information
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TWEB / HIWAS Information
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PMSV Pilot-to Metro Service

• Full Service Forecaster available
• All AF CWTs have forecasters, some OWSmay have
  trainees, but will be able to give full service.

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PMSV
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What is a SIGMET? How does it affect your
mission?

• An area weather advisory issued by the FAA
• Issued for tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms,
  embedded thunderstorms, large hail, severe and
  extreme turbulence, severe icing, and widespread
  dust or sand storms.
• Cover large geographical areas and vertical
  thickness
• Prepared for general aviation and do not consider
  aircraft type or capability.

11-2KC-135 v3 para. 6.21.9. SIGMETs. National
Weather Service in-flight weather advisories are
not limiting to Air Force aircraft but may
indicate a need for the aircrew to contact a
military weather facility. Crews will consider
all SIGMETs valid for their aircraft until
verified as not applicable with a military METRO
service. WHY?
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Why call about SIGMETS? -Issued for areas
greater than 3000 square miles -SIGMET may only
affect a small portion of that area at one
time. Example The SIGMET below covers east
Texas and Louisiana, but the thunderstorms are
only in the highlighted area on the satellite
shot. Remember, the storms are moving east and
north, so areas not affected now, may be having
thunderstorms at your planned arrival time.
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VOLMET Voice Weather Broadcasts

• Meteorological information broadcast over special
  VHF and HF frequencies
• VHF broadcasts are normally continuous
• HF broadcasts are scheduled on regular intervals
• See FIH Section C for frequencies, broadcast
  schedules, airports served, and types of service

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VHF or HF - VOLMET
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SATCOM
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EnoughSo far we have talked about

• Transient
• OWS
• Local CWT
• FSS
• NWS
• Internet
• Foreign Mil
• Foreign WX

• Home Base
• Local CWT
• OWS

Automated Systems
ARTCC, Flight Watch
If in doubt open up the FIH section C
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When weather gets marginal use the professionals!
OWS LOCATION WEBSITE 11 OWS Elmendorf AFB, AK
http//weather.elmendorf.af.mil/ 15 OWS Scott
AFB, IL https//15ows.scott.af.mil/ 17 OWS
Hickam AFB, HI Not Available at print time 20
OWS Yokota AB, Japan http//www.yokota.af.mil/orgs
/weather/index.shtml 25 OWS Davis-Monthan, AFB,
AZ https//25ows.dm.af.mil/ 26 OWS Barksdale,
AFB, LA https//26ows.barksdale.af.mil/ 28 OWS
Shaw AFB, SC https//28ows.shaw.af.mil/ USAFE
Sembach AB, GE https//ows.sembach.af.mil/
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Enroute Weather Summary

• Thunderstorms and Hazards
• Icing
• Volcanic Ash
• Turbulence
• Enroute Weather Information Sources
• http//aircrafticing.grc.nasa.gov

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• Thats It
• DONT FORGET YOUR CRITIQUES!