# Presentation: 173879

## Eastern Region –Mt. Holly Regional Aviation Conference  

- Eastern Region –Mt. Holly Regional Aviation Conference

- Rick Curtis
- Southwest Airlines
- 6/6/06
- _[rick.curtis@wnco.com](mailto:rick.curtis@wnco.com)_

## SWA Facts

- 3000+ daily flights from 61 airports - newest DEN – IAD starts 10/06
- 450+ Boeing 737 aircraft: -300’s  -500’s  -700’s
- Average flight length is 773 miles
- Shortest: 133 miles - RSW-MCO
- Longest:  2,510 miles - PHL - OAK
- Southwest purchased 1.3 billion gallons of jet fuel in 2004.
- Southwest offers the most domestic flights of any airline.

## SWA Cities

## SWA Weather

- Rely solely on NWS TAFs for operational decisions.
- Weather information is routinely used by: Dispatch, Pilots, Maintenance, Operations, Reservations, Crew Scheduling and Executive Office.
- Intranet Weather System available to all SWA employees.
- Integrate both government and private sector weather information sources into our applications.

## FAR reserve fuel is required to be carried in addition to enroute and alternate fuel.

- FAR reserve fuel is required to be carried _in addition to_ enroute and alternate fuel.

## Slide 6

## Eastern Sub-Region Aviation Meeting

- PHL Operations
- Runways 9R-27L, 9L-27R
- Best ATOG 9R-27L (10506’)
- - 8 Gates – D1-D4, E8, E9, E10, and E12
- 58 daily departures – 9 terminating flights
- Usually need 600 RVR or 1/4 mile for departures.
- Best approach is ILS 9R RVR 700’or 1⁄2 SM 50’ DA
- Most other approaches require at least 1⁄2 SM – 200’ DA.

## Eastern Sub-Region Aviation Meeting

- ISP Operations
- Runways 6-24, 10-24, 15R-33L
- Best ATOG 6-24 (7002’)
- Runway 6 preferred for departures due to JFK traffic conflicts
- - 4 Gates – A5, A6, A7 and A8
- 32 daily departures – 9 terminating flights
- Usually need 1600 RVR or 1/4 mile for take offs
- Best approach is 6-24 RVR 2400 or 1⁄2 SM 200’ DA

## Eastern Sub-Region Aviation Meeting

- BWI Operations
- Runways 10-28, 15R-33L, 4-22
- Best ATOG 10-28 (10502’)
- 21 Gates – A1-A11, B2, B4, B6, B8, B10- B15
- 166 daily departures – 23 terminating flights
- Usually need 600 RVR for departures
- Best approach is ILS Runway 10 – RVR 700 DA 50’
- Need at least 1⁄2 SM for other approaches
- 2500+ SWA Employees around BWI

## Eastern Sub-Region Aviation Meeting

- Strategic Impact – Major Snow Storms/Hurricanes
- Employees
- Passengers  - “SODA”
- Airport operations planning coordination
- Determine station “close” time
- After storm evaluate conditions, employee situation, infrastructure (bridges/tram, roads, NAVAIDs etc.)
- Plan Recovery
- Restore Operations

## Eastern Sub-Region Aviation Meeting

- Routine Impacts – Thunderstorms/Snow/Ice Pellets
- Extra contingency fuel
- Required alternates
- Flight Delays
- Suspended Ramp Operations – “Code Red”
- Diversions
- Cancelled Operations

## Eastern Sub-Region Aviation Meeting

- NWS WFO Specifics
- AFDs and Aviation Sections
- TAFs
- GRIDs
- Airport Weather Warnings
- Local Weather Statements
- Product Consistency
- Telephone consults

## Safety versus accuracy - importance
Watch how long you go out - extended periods of BR, TS etc.
NIL TAFs - we prefer the NO AMD TAFs when possible 
Watch FAR.
TAFs - be specific (mush=bad, fortitude=good)
Know the airport minimums 
Monitor time periods

- Watch how long you go out - extended periods of BR, TS etc.
- NIL TAFs - we prefer the NO AMD TAFs when possible
- Watch FAR.
- TAFs - be specific (mush=bad, fortitude=good)
- Know the airport minimums
- Monitor time periods

- NWS Not-so Random Thoughts

- FM0200Z 2-SN
- TEMPO 0204 1/4 +SN

## Area Forecast Discussion - Aviation
Very interested in FROPA, cross-winds and not just IFR/VFR
TAF verification - “impact verification” when it comes to operational verifications
Ceiling or vis or wx DID/DID NOT happen
Should they have been forecasted YES/NO
Interested in working w/NWS to compare w/current TAFVER
ASOS issues 
Web Site Standardization within NWS and regions

- Very interested in FROPA, cross-winds and not just IFR/VFR
- TAF verification - “impact verification” when it comes to operational verifications
- Ceiling or vis or wx DID/DID NOT happen
- Should they have been forecasted YES/NO
- Interested in working w/NWS to compare w/current TAFVER
- ASOS issues
- Web Site Standardization within NWS and regions

- NWS Not-so Random Thoughts

## From everyone at Southwest Airlines 

- From everyone at Southwest Airlines
- Thanks for all YOU do – YOU are appreciated!