# Presentation: 502352

## 2005 Pacific Aviation Directors Workshop April 5-7 

- National Weather Service
- Pacific Region

## Pacific Region Aviation Program Last Year

- Guam WFO Aviation Responsibilities
- 8 TAFs, Western Pacific SIGMETs, Guam Won Pat Int’l Airport AWW, ROFORs (upon request)
- Honolulu WFO Aviation Responsibilities
- 16 TAFs, Central Pacific SIGMETs and AIRMETs, Wind/Temp Aloft, ROFORs, and possible HNL AWW

## Changes in Pacific Region Aviation TAFs – Old Vs. Current 

_***Guam***_
-  Guam, Rota, Saipan, Tinian, Koror, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei

_***Honolulu ***_
- Lihue, Honolulu, Kalaeloa, Kahalui, Hilo, Kona, Molokai, Kapalua, Lanai
- Pago Pago
- Johnston Island -closed
- Midway Island
- Wake Island -DOD
- Kwajalein, Majuro, Kosrae

## Changes to SIGMETs (SIGnificant METeorological Advisories) in Pacific Region

- Last Year – Guam and Honolulu both wrote SIGMETs
- Currently – Only Honolulu writes SIGMETs covering Micronesia, Palau, RMI, CNMI and Guam including the Volcanic Ash SIGMETs
- SIGMETs are issued for Tropical Cyclones, _*Volcanic Ash*_, Severe Tstms, Tornadoes, Hail, Severe Icing, Severe or Clear Air Turbulence

## Slide 5

## Volcanic Ash SIGMETs

- Anatahan within Guam’s Zone forecast but SIGMETs now come from Honolulu.
- Haze and/or VOG do not necessarily need a SIGMET – but in the Public Zone Forecast
- Deposition of ash would mean a SIGMET would be necessary – observations and coordination between the offices is key

## Xfer of SIGMETs

***Xfer of SIGMETs***
***From GUM to HFO ***
***On Sept. 29******th******, 2004***

## AIRman’s METeorolgoical Advisories

**AIRMETs**

-  Thresholds are below the status of SIGMETs.
- Mainly for VFR pilots on Turbulence, Icing and IFR conditions

## Flight Categories

**    **

| VFR | VSBY > 5 SM  CIG > 3000 ft |
| --- | --- |
| MVFR | VSBY  3-5 SM CIGs 1 to 3 kft  |
| IFR | VSBY 1 < 3 SM CIG 500 to 900 ft |
| LIFR | VSBY < 1  CIG < 500 ft |
| VLIFR | VSBY < 1⁄4 SM VSBY < 200 ft  
Statistical group only, not a flight category                                              |

## Strengths of Pacific Region Aviation Program

- Each WFO has local verification
- Monthly Pacific Regional statistics are run
- WFO Guam and WFO Honolulu hold annual Aviation Users Workshop
- Provides *valuable* feedback and outreach
- This meeting + continued efforts to meet with users on a regular basis
- Using TEMPO and PROB groups less frequently and for 4 hours at most

## Different Goals for Pacific Region?...

_***Why?***_
**    ****- CONUS sites obtain these VLIFR conditions                                                                                                                                                                                                                       only 0.5% of the time.  PR 20 times less than that.**
**   **** ****- Pacific Region Aviation Climatology**
**     ****	****VFR****	****	****	****92%                                                                                    ****	****MVFR****	****        7.47%                                 ****	****IFR****	****	****          .45%****	****                          ****	****LIFR****	****	****          .05%****	****                       ****	****VLIFR                 .025% **

## How will we obtain these goals?...

**Aviation Climatology and the USERS!**

- Maybe rain at some of the shorter runways is most significant to users - or any MVFR condition.
- Maybe wind direction and speed in the tropical Pacific is most significant to users.
-   Examine a Database of Hourly Ceilings and Visibility at respective TAF sites.
- Track the *Avg.* *Length of Time* the values stayed within a specific allowable range of the initial Ceiling or Visibility Value.

## Communications 

- NWS will be responsible for providing the only met comms in Micronesia (per new MOU with the FAA)
- NWS will strive to convert Internet to dedicated service – discontinue the use of dial-up
- Goal is to cancel AFTN/MET once FAA completes transition of datastream to alternate pathway – AISR
- Long term Goal (2-4 yrs.) provide a robust direct comms path utilizing VSAT for met products and data to Micronesia.

## National Weather Service 

**737 Bishop Street**
**Suite 2200**
**Honolulu, HI  96813**
**(808) 532-6414**

**internet site****   ****http://www.nws.noaa.gov/pr/hq **