1. Tom Fahey, 2003 ATA Meteorology Committee Industry Chair
Friends/Partners Aviation Wx - Panel #2 - Progress In Weather Observations
Date: 08 Oct 2003
Tom Fahey, 2003 ATA Meteorology Committee Industry Chair

2. ATA Meteorology Committee
2003 Work Plan
MDCRS Management Team
Wx Data Access via Public Internet
Reduce Operational Limitations due to Wx Obs & Fcsts
Airport Specific TAF Initiative
Acronyms
MDCRS (Meteorological Data Collecting & Reporting System)
QICP (Qualified Internet Communications Provider)

3. MDCRS What is MDCRS? What is the MDCRS Management Team Vision Goals
Meteorological Data Collecting & Reporting System
Automated Wx Info from AA, DL, FDX, NW, UAL & UPS a/c given to NWS.
Originated in late 1980’s in effort to improve flight plan wind fcsts
What is the MDCRS Management Team
Effort by NWS, FAA & Participating Airlines To Improve the System
Vision
An affordable automated collection & dissemination system of aircraft provided
meteorological observations to support the nations complete atmospheric
sensing strategy & meet the needs of the aviation industry.
Goals
•Cost Share •Variables •Optimize
•Standardize •Available •Usable

4. Wx Data Access via Internet
ATA Met. Committee Position re QICP (Developed 02Apr03 at Spring Meeting)
NWS Announced “No Plans to Become QICP” (ATA Met Com 11 April 2003 Response to NWS)
“All Aviation Weather Products to be:
-Accessible to the users via the public internet in a manner
approved by FAA or
-Via an alternative communications method.”
“The airlines are very interested in the results of NWS's further
research with the FAA to determine the specific level of effort
necessary by the NWS to comply to QICP status. ATA Met Com hopes that
this research determines that the NWS can be a QICP soon. ATA Met Com
very much looks forward to learning the results of your study and are
holding off any further comments until that work is complete.”

5. Operational Limitations Due to Wx Products & Obs
ATA Met Com Focus Items
Weather Products [Russ Gold covering in detail]
Testing & Policies for Developmental Wx Products
Development w/ input from users regarding operational impact
Airport Specific TAFs
Policies for Weather Observations
Added Focus Required on Transition from NWS to FAA
e. g. Concern Regarding Visibility Observation Standards
Concern regarding other observations

6. Ops Limitations Due to Wx Observations
Discrepancy Btwn Tower & Sfc Visibility
FAA has replaced NWS as agency responsible for manual Obs
FAA & NWS Definition of Visibility Standards Differ
Observation Discrepancies Have Occurred as Result
After the ASOS produces automated observations -
The ASOS observation can be augmented manually by 2 separate groups:
FAA Contract Observers or FAA Tower Controllers.
FAA Sfc Wx Observing
“Visibilty may be determined at either the surface, the tower level or both. …
If visibility observations are made from both levels, the lower value
(if less than 4 miles) shall be reported as prevailing visibility in the main body
of the METAR, and the other value shall be a remark….”
Ex 1: Manually inputted visibility by Tower personnel not updated.
Result: METAR Main Body contains old, lower, not representative value.
Ex 2: Manually inputted visibility tower height in stratus
Result: METAR Main Body contains value for 200+ft abv sfc. < than sfc.

7. Discrepancy Btwn Tower & Sfc Vis (cont.)
Impact on Operations
METAR Main Body
Traditionally used either 100% Surface or 100% Tower Level Vis.
Including Vis Values 200ft or more abv a site which normally reports vis from the surface level results in:
An inconsistent METAR observation when tower is in the clouds
Results in a TAF with more restrictive vis when tower is in clouds
This Results in:
• User Confusion
• Potential for unnecessary added limitations on operations
• Proposed Solution
- Limit Tower Vis to Remarks section at Stns where Visibility is normally observed at the surface level.

8. Ops Limitations Due to Wx Observation (cont)
Airport Measurements Unavailable
Snowfall (Hourly & Total Snowfall Amount & Water Equivalent.) (ICAO SNOWTAM format in the US)
Freezing Drizzle
Cloud Ceilings above 12,000 feet (Not Level C airports)
Airport Measurements Inaccurate
Wind Shear
Wind Direction (Digital ATIS incorrectly reporting true rather than magnetic)

9. Progress in Wx Observations
ATA Meteorology Committee Criteria
Issue Included
•Level of Negative impact on Operations (safety & efficiency) w/in last yr
2003 Grading
•Was progress made by industry & gov’t resolving w/in last yr
Issue Grading
PIREPS Significant Progress
FAA Sfc Wx Obs New Focus (Vis Standards)
METAR Availability Progress
Snowfall & FZing Drizzle Slight Progress
Volcanic Ash No Progress
Turbulence Progress
Wind Shear Alerts Progress
Digital ATIS Winds Progress
Turbulence Progress GTG