FAA Stated Requirements

1
FAA Stated Requirements
The goal is to substantially improve the
capabilities for delivery of aviation weather
information and to transform the current
collection of isolated units into a national
program for weather support to FAA field
sitesImplicit in this restructuring is the need
for consolidation of the existing CWSUs. (Mr.
Michael Sammartino Letter) Location
Consolidate the current 20 CONUS CWSUs into a
smaller number of sites, at this time ALASKA CWSU
may continue to operate in its current
state. Mission Maintain continuous
surveillance of adverse weather that has the
potential to affect any phase of flight within
the NAS provide timely forecast and warnings of
hazardous weather to air traffic management
throughout the transition between strategic
decisions and tactical adjustments deliver
forecast products and services 24x7
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FAA Stated Requirements

• Standards
• Establish a new concept of operations that
  addresses the new mission and incorporates
  uniform national standards, but allows
  flexibility to adjust to local needs.
• Products
• Develop and implement new products
• Hub forecasts out to 8 hours in advance. Hourly
  updates required for the 35 Operational Evolution
  Airports (OEP).
• Hub advisories for hazardous weather, 1 hour
  lead-time
• TRACON forecasts - estimates of capacity
• TRACON advisories for hazardous weather, 1 hour
  lead-time
• Route Forecasts - estimates of capacity
• Increased participation/contributions to the
  Collaborative Convective Forecast Product (CCFP)
  - made a priority during summer convection season
• Services
• Develop and deploy remote interactive weather
  briefing capability.

3
FAA Stated Requirements

• Collaboration and Dissemination
• Forecasts and Advisories need to be delivered to
  TMUs in the ARTCC,TRACONs, and some Air Traffic
  Control Towers (ATCT) within each area of
  responsibility (ARTCC Facility Network).
  Collaboration with other centers and the national
  center is expected.
• Resources
• Investment analysis conducted by the FAA has
  demonstrated that restructured CWSU products and
  services can be provided while reducing personnel
  cost by 20 with a cost savings of approximately
  2M/year in personnel costs alone
• Training
• Coursework required
• Traffic Flow Management (TFM)
• On-the-job training - ATCSCC, ARTCC, and TRACONS
• Training presentations - ARTCC, and TRACONS

4
Aviation Weather ServicesResponse to FAA
Requirements

• National Weather Service (NWS) will improve
  current aviation weather services by delivering a
  national collaborative decision making capability
  with new products.
• CWSU Functions assimilated into WFO operations
  with aviation weather support 24x7
• Dedicated aviation desk during peak NAS operation
  hours
• Air Traffic Control System Command Center
  (ATCSCC) weather desk, staffed by five NWS
  meteorologist
• New technology under development offering
  on-demand services, remote briefing capabilities,
  and new graphical products
• Tactical Decision Aids (TDA) will provide air
  traffic impact information, in an easy to read
  color code system, tailored to the users
  specifications