1. Progress in Ground-Based Dissemination/Display
Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) Functional Audit and Joint Assessment of Current Operations
Friends and Partners of Aviation Weather
NBAA, Orlando
Dave Rodenhuis, ATT-260
October 2003

2. Current Configuration
ARTCCs and 20 Center Weather Service Units (+ ZAN)

3. Background CWSU Mission and responsibilities: Technology
unchanged since 1978 (~25 years)
Technology
radical changes in observations, communications, and weather forecasting.
National Research Council (NRC, 1995):
recommendation: consolidate to 8 centers
NTSB (1995, 2001):
operate whenever significant weather is present
review the program; set national standards
Costs are $9-10 M and increasing
December 2002: Management responsibility to Air Traffic Tactical Operations Program (ATT)
What is the value to the FAA?
What is the value to users of the NAS?

4. Joint Evaluation by ATT, ARS, and the NWS
FAA Orders a (1979, 1984, 1990)
Guidelines for Restructuring
Functional Audit
ARS Reports
Kies Questions
CWSU Appraisals (FY02)
Role of the Weather Coordinator

5. Functional Audit (ARS and NWS)
Notwithstanding the high performance and conscientious work at some centers……..
Functional Audit and Assessment
1. Current Mission and Responsibilities?
Unfulfilled, and overtaken by technology
2. Current Level of Service?
Uneven and sharply deficient
3. Value of Products and Services?
Marginal

6. We can do better Concepts: Change the mission 24x7 operations
initiate (40) HUB Forecasts out to 8 hours, updated
24x7 operations
develop an “interactive weather channel”
consolidate centers and raise level of performance/grade level
strengthen the delivery of weather information to the FAA and users into support of traffic management, while maintaining safety
more efficient; cost savings
no change for ZAN, Alaska

7. MTO Areas of Jurisdiction

8. Next Steps Guidelines March 03 Joint Assessment (ATT, NWS) October 03
Restructuring: November 03
Mission and Concept of Operations
Restructuring Plan: January 04
Implementation: 2 years (FY04-05)
The Goal: Improvements:
mission and responsibilities
level of service
value to the TFM and ATC
training
management
funding