# Presentation: 884372

## Aviation  Weather    INformation

**Paul Stough**
**NASA Langley Research Center**
**Hampton, VA**

- http://awin.larc.nasa.gov

- Weather Accident Prevention Annual Project Review
- May 23 - 25, 2000

## Aviation Weather Information

**Background**
**Enhanced Weather Products**
**Operator Support**

## Background

**Feb. 1997, President Clinton established national goal: Reduce fatal accident rate by 80% in 10 years**
**NASA Aviation Safety Investment Strategy Team (ASIST) prioritized research needs**
**NASA created Aviation Safety Program (AvSP)**
**Weather is a major contributing factor in accidents**
**33% Commercial Carrier**
**27% General Aviation**
**AvSP created Weather Accident Prevention Project**

## Weather Information System Goals

**Data dissemination -**** **Implement **data link** capabilities for Flight Information Services (FIS)
**Crew/dispatch/ATC monitoring, presentation, and decision aids**  - develop and implement multifunctional **color cockpit** **displays** incorporating FIS products
**Weather product generation** - expand and institutionalize the generation, dissemination, and use of **automated** **PIREPS** to the full spectrum of the aviation community, including general aviation
**Advanced aviation meteorology** - improve underlying weather **forecasting** services
**Near term tactical sensors/systems** - incorporate **satellite-based and ground-based sensor technologies** and develop **aircraft-mounted forward-looking technologies** for detecting weather hazards

## Better forecasts need better data

Graphic presentations need more bandwidth

Current data communication capability limits availability & presentation 

Presentation should not increase workload

Existing aircraft need retrofit capability

**Graphic presentations need more bandwidth**
**Current data communication capability limits availability & presentation **
**Presentation should not increase workload**
**Existing aircraft need retrofit capability**

**Needs**

## System Elements

- Presentation

- Weather
- Products

- Distribution

**AWIN**
- Enhanced
- Weather
- Products

**WINCOMM**
- Communications
- Networks and
- Data Links

**AWIN**
- Operator
- Support

## Aviation Weather Information (AWIN)

**Aviation Weather Information (AWIN)**

**Goal  **
**Objectives**
**Challenges**
**Approaches**
**Elements**

**Improved Forecast Models and Remote Area Weather Sensing**

**Develop technologies and methods to provide sufficiently accurate, timely and intuitive information to pilots, dispatchers, and air traffic controllers which, if implemented, will enable a 50% reduction in aircraft accidents attributable to weather situation awareness**

**Operator Support**

**Develop Needed Weather Products and Sensing Capabilities**

**Weather Display Systems for Retrofit Applications**

**Develop Enhanced Weather Presentations and Decision Aids**

**Develop Installed and Portable Systems**

**Improve Wx Forecast/**
**Nowcast Capabilities**

**Use Aircraft as Airborne Wx Data Collectors**

**Enhanced Weather Products**

**Multi-Purpose Sensor Systems**

**Provide**
**Decision**
**Aids**

**Cooperative**
**Agreements**

**Systems Engineering**

## AWIN System

**AWIN System**

**Weather**
**Information**

**Decision**
**Aids**

**Processor**

**Presentation**

**Position**

**Flight Plan**

**Navigation**
**Information**

**User**
**Interface**

**Onboard**
**Sensors**

**Weather**
**Products**

**Ground Wx**
**System**

**EPIREPS**

**Data Link**

**Data Link**

**Special Use Airspace**

**Traffic**

**Terrain**

**Obstacles**

## Transport	Worldwide
Commuter	United States
General Aviation	United States
Air Traffic Management (ATM)	United States +
Airline Operations Center (AOC)	Worldwide
Fixed Base Operator (FBO)	United States

**FBO**

**ATM**

**Weather**
**Provider**

**Aircraft**

**Transport****	****Worldwide**
**Commuter****	****United States**
**General Aviation****	****United States**
**Air Traffic Management (ATM)****	****United States +**
**Airline Operations Center (AOC)****	****Worldwide**
**Fixed Base Operator (FBO)****	****United States**

**Weather Information Exchange**

## Technology Development Process

- Establish Requirements

- Survey Current Capabilities

- Develop Concepts

- Develop Evaluation Scenarios

- Conduct Simulations

- Conduct Flight Evaluations

- Demonstrate Capability in Relevant Environment

## Market Segments

- Transport
- Business

- Commuter

- General Aviation
- Rotorcraft

**SAE 2000-01-1662 Kauffmann, “Estimating the Adoption Rate for Cockpit Weather Information Systems”**

## Timeline

**Timeline**

**NRA**

**Boeing Transport**

**Honeywell Transport**

**ARNAV GA**

**Honeywell GA**

**Honeywell Route Opt**

**Honeywell EPIREPS**

**Rockwell AWARE**

**Rockwell EWxR**

**NCAR OCND**

**NRL Ceiling and Visibility**

**FISDL**

**National**

**International**

- FY

**Flt. Exp.**

- Phase 2 CRAs

- New NRA

## Benefits

**Expanded collection and dissemination of weather observations**
**Remote areas (oceanic)**
**Lower atmosphere**
**Off established airways**
**Easier access to aviation weather information**
**More intuitive presentation of information to flight crew**
**Graphic format**
**Flight path relevant**
**Better situation awareness**
**Faster, more informed decisions**
**Decision aiding**

## Summary

**Addressing strategic and tactical weather information needs and presentation**
**Weather Product Generation **
**Presentation and Decision Aids**
**Excellent coordination with FAA**
**FAA Aviation Weather Research Program**
**FAA Flight Information Services**
**Strong industry commitment shown by significant cost sharing**
**Positive implementation potential**

## Aviation Safety Program

**Weather Accident Prevention**
**Aviation Weather Information**
**Enhanced Weather Products (EWxP) Level IV Overview**

- Phil Schaffner, EWxP Manager
- NASA Langley Research Center
- P.R.Schaffner@LaRC.NASA.gov
- (757)864-1809

## NASA AvSP Organizational Structure

**Aviation Safety Program Office**
**1.0**

**System-Wide Accident**
**Prevention**
**2.2**
**Dave Foyle (ARC)**

**Single Aircraft Accident Prevention**
**2.3**
**John White (LaRC)**

**Weather Accident Prevention**
**2.4**
**Ron Colantonio (GRC)**

**Aviation System Monitoring & Modeling**
**2.1**
**Yuri Gawdiak (ARC)**

**Accident Mitigation**
**2.5**
**Doug Rohn (GRC)**

**Technical Integration**
**1.1**
**Vince Schultz (LaRC****)**

**Government/Industry****Program Leadership Team**

**Level 1- Program**

**Level 2- Elements**

**Level 3- Projects**

**Aircraft Icing**
**(Base Program)**

**Aviation Weather**
**Information**
**(AWIN)**
**2.4.1**
**Paul Stough (LaRC)**

**Turbulence**
**Detection & **
**Mitigation**
**2.4.3**
**Rod Bogue (DFRC)**

**Enhanced**
**Weather Products**
**2.4.1.1**
**Phil Schaffner (LaRC)**

**Operator Support**
**2.4.1.2**
**Dan Shafer (LaRC)**

**Level 4**

**Cooperative Research**
**Agreements**
**2.4.1.3**
**Paul Stough (LaRC)**

**Systems Engineering**
**2.4.1.4**
**Ed Johnson (LaRC)**

**Weather Information**
**Communication**
**(WINCOMM)**
**2.4.2**
**Gus Martzaklis (GRC)**

**Synthetic**
**Vision**
**2.6**
**Dan Baize (LaRC)**

## EWxP Project Goals/Objectives/Products

**Goal:** Develop technologies that will provide accurate, timely and intuitive information to pilots, dispatchers, and air traffic controllers to enable the detection and avoidance of atmospheric hazards.
**Objective: **Develop new and derivative weather products, complementing existing weather sources with in situ and remote sensing capability where necessary, to provide necessary information at appropriate temporal and spatial resolution for both tactical and strategic decision making for aviation users.

## WxAP Project Schedule and Milestones

**WxAP Project Schedule and Milestones**

- FY00

- FY02

**Initial AWIN **
**Concept**** and Forward-**
**Looking Turbulence**
**Detection Flight **
**Evaluation**

**Flight Demonstration**
**Of Forward-Looking**
**Turbulence Warning**
**System**

**National AWIN Capability**
**National Datalink Capability**

**International AWIN Capability**
**International Datalink Capability**

**Turbulence Product Integrated**
**With AWIN**

**Turbulence Flight **
**Management System **
**Demo**

- FY01

- FY03

- FY04

- [Blue indicates EWxP Emphasis]

## EWxP Product Implementation Strategy

- Utilize Cost/Market studies to guide product development.
- Work with and complement efforts under Cooperative Research  Agreements (CRAs).
- Work with FAA PDTs and NWS/AWC to adapt existing and experimental, guidance, and operational weather products for cockpit use.
- Cooperate with FAA PDTs and NWS to enhance weather products by providing additional information. (e.g. E-PiReps)
- Partner with industry to develop and demonstrate technologies.

## EWxP Areas of Emphasis

- Airborne Hazard Avoidance System
- Electronic Pilot Reports (E-PiReps)
- FAA, FAA PDTs, NOAA, and other interfaces
- Cooperate in ongoing research activities
- Ground and space based sensor development/exploitation
-  Low Cost Terminal Area Weather Radar (& Airport Services?)
-  Adaptation of GIFTS and other Atmospheric Sciences Satellites
- Adaptation of Weather Products for Cockpit use
-  Work with NWS/AWC, FAA, and PDTs

## EWxP Accomplishments

- Completed AWIN requirements study.
- Supporting NCSU Icing Accident Characterization.
- Jointly Supporting NRL Ceiling and Visibility Improvement Experiment with Navy and FAA.
- Supporting NWS/AWC Visiting Scholar Program.
- Supporting Enhanced Weather Radar data collection and merging of airborne radar data with uplinked NEXRAD data on Summer 2000 flight experiments.
- ATLAS Total Lightning Sensor Testing
- Investigated sensor simulation environments to support sensor and system development.
-  Developing architecture for AWIN hazard detection and avoidance systems.

## EWxP Interfaces

**AGATE**

** **

**Honeywell**

**Enhanced Weather Products**

**ARNAV**

**EWxP Interfaces**

**FAA**

**DoD**

**State Gov. Orgs.**

**NOAA**

**Naval **
**Research**
**Lab**

**RTI**

**GTRI**

**NCSU**

**Turbulence**

**WINCOM**

**AWIN/OS**

- CRAs

- NASA

**ODU**

- Other Government

- Contracts/ Grants

**NCAR**

**Rockwell**

## EWxP CRA Connections

**Transport World-Wide Weather Information Systems**
**Boeing****	****	****Aviation Weather Information (AWIN)**
**Honeywell****	****	****Weather Information Network (WINN)**
**General Aviation Weather Information Systems**
**ARNAV****	****	****Weather Hazard Information System: Reducing GA Fatal**
**	****	****	****	****Weather-Related Accidents**
**Honeywell**** ****	****	****GA-Oriented VHF DataLink (VDL) Mode 2-Based**
**	****	****	****	****Weather and Flight Information Services (FIS) Broadcast,**
**	****	****	****	****Reception, and Display System**
**Topical Category - ****Elements of Weather Information Systems**
**Honeywell****	****	****Weather Avoidance Using Route Optimization as a**
**	****	****	****	****Decision Aid**
**Honeywell**** ****	****	****General Aviation Oriented Electronic Pilot Report**
**	****	****	****	****(EPIREP) Generation and Datalink System**
**Rockwell****	****	****Aviation Weather Awareness and Reporting Enhancements**
**	****	****	****	****(AWARE)**
**Rockwell****	****	****Enhanced On-Board Weather Information System (EWxR)**
**NCAR****	****	****A Demonstration of an End-to-end Oceanic Weather**
**	****	****	****	****Hazard Information Dissemination System**
**NRL****	****	****Ceiling and Visibility Forecast/Nowcast Improvements**

_**Legend**_:
- Managing
- Close Connection

## Electronic Pilot Reports (E-PiReps)

**Intent is to develop low cost sensor and communications infrastructure, and to complement and enhance current ACARS/MDCRS information.**
- Industry Partners
- Honeywell International E-PiReps, GA, and Transport System CRAs
- ARNAV GA System CRA
- ???
- Other Agency Partners
- FAA and PDTs
- NOAA (NCEP, FSL, AWC)
- NASA Langley Efforts
- Surveys of User Requirements
- Laboratory, Wind Tunnel, Flight Testing and Validation

## E-PiReps Concept

- Other
- A/C

- Other
- A/C

**E-PiReps Concept**

- Ground
- Station

- Airline Wx Ctr

- Ground
- Station

- Ground
- Station

- AGFS

- NCEP

- AWC

- ATC

- Other
- A/C

- FSS

- Others...

- Central Processing Site

- Central Processing Site

## E-PIREPS as Wx Information

- E-PiReps information may include: position, heading, airspeed, winds aloft, temperature, water vapor/humidity, ice detection, ice depth, accelerations, A/C independent turbulence, measurements or alerts from forward-looking sensors
- Potential Users:
- Pilots (Tactical, Strategic)
- ATC and NAS Traffic Planners (Strategic, Tactical)
- NCEP (Strategic)
- AWC/RTVS (Strategic)
- Airline Wx Centers (Tactical, Strategic)

## EPIREPS System Issues

- Coverage

- Cost

- Capability

- Measurements
- Resolution
- Accuracy

- Airspace
- Frequency

- Fabrication
- Installation
- Calibration
- Maintenance
- Data link
- Processing
- Dissemination

- What sensors do you use?

- What aircraft do you equip?

## “GA” E-PiReps Costs and Benefits

- Incentives to Equip
- Regional Airlines
- General Aviation FBOs, Individual Owners
- Sensor/Communications Package Price
- Rebates, Tax Incentives, Sale of data
- Weather Data Cost
- Users share cost of data
- Value added to FIS

## E-PiReps Coverage Study

- FAA ATA-200 Airspace Planning and Analysis Division
- Archives IFR flight data into the ETMS database
- Will share data and provide analysis to help answer the coverage issue

## E-PiReps Coverage Study

- Expected Results from ATA-200

**E-PiReps Coverage Study**

## E-PiReps Sensor Calibration

- Factory Calibration
- Internal self-checks
- Periodic calibration
- Performed by?
- How often?
- To what standards?

## Testing in GRC Icing Research Tunnel

- Support Testing of  Honeywell/ODS Sensor Package
- Tunnel back online 6/2000
- Piggyback on other NASA test
- Various regimes for icing (Euro K ice detection standard)
- Test section 6’ x 9’ x 20’
- Must provide own data acquisition, other equipment, and cabling
- Second Shift Testing Only
- Online forms and manuals: _[http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/IRT/index.html](http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/IRT/index.html)_

## E-PiReps Summary

- Phase II of CRAs in progress
- Interfaces established with other partners
- Coverage analysis in progress
- Testing/Costs/Calibration Issues being addressed
- Determining applications, customers, requirements

## Rockwell Enhanced Weather Radar (EWxR)

- Example of WxR and NEXRAD underlay.

**Rockwell Enhanced Weather Radar (EWxR)**

## EWxP’s Next Steps

- Increased interaction and cooperation with FAA, NOAA, and DoD.
- Develop airborne hazard avoidance sensor-suite/information-system concepts.
- Develop low cost Terminal Area Weather Radar system design.
- Complete initial marketing studies for each product.
- Continue to seek greater participation with aviation user community.
- Develop detailed plans for FY-02 National and FY-04 International Concept Demonstrations

## Potential Future Venues for Testing/Demo

- Oshkosh 2000, 2001, ...
- Orlando Sun-N-Fun 2001,2002, ...
- Salt Lake City Winter Olympics 2002
- NE/Cleveland Corridor Experiment
- AWIN National Demo 2002
- AWIN International Demo 2004
- Other NASA and FAA activities...

## Example Weather Product: Oceanic Lightning Data

**Example Weather Product: Oceanic Lightning Data**

**Oceanic Lightning is a Potential Wx Product to be adapted for cockpit use**
**Data-sparse Areas Exist Due to:**
**Lack of sensor coverage **
**Oceanic Regions beyond NEXRAD coverage**
**Limited Observations/Sensors**
**Limited Resolution (models)**
**Limited Comms**
**Satellite imagery doesn’t always relate convection**
***But a ’Gapfiller’ to augment satellite imagery for such data-sparse areas exists*****!  **
** ****Long Range****  or Oceanic Lightning Data**
**We only have to ‘turn on the spigot’**

**alan.nierow@faa.gov**

**Notes:**
1. Minimal  Correlation (CG) as to Lead time for storm severity.
2. IC/CC is a precursor to convective development. 

##  Oceanic Lightning Experiment

** ****Oceanic Lightning Experiment**

**WHO:  **
**Sponsors: AWC, GAI & FAA. **
**Networks: ****NLDN/CLDN,  France, Germany & Japan.**
**PARTICIPATION****:**
**FAA ******** Oceanic ARTCCs (OAK, NYC) + MIA/HOU**
**CWSUs & TMUs**
** ****Other ******** NWS/DoD/Airlines for EVALUATION **
**WHERE****:****  ****Atlantic, Pacific & GULFMEX regions**
**DURATION****: **** ****April 1999 - January 2000**
**NOTE:  NASA AvSP/WxAP/AWIN program investigating feasibility of**
**               ****getting  lightning data into cockpit**

**Notes:**
No cost to FAA for oceanic Experiment
users need to evaluate the data for operational usefulness.
Starting end of month. 

## World View

## Results of the AWC Evaluation

**Lightning data found useful for producing International SIGMETS****.**
**Provides AWC forecasters means of detecting convection in satellite imagery**
**FAA personnel/Airlines found it useful for flight planning over GulfMex, West Atlantic, and Caribbean.**
**CWSUs issued CWAs based upon this data.**
**DoD personnel used data to**** **
**Delineate turbulence and windshear;**** **
**Assist in pre-flight briefings over Caribbean and CENTAM**** **
**Tropical/Mid Pacific & Eastern Atlantic: Accuracy & detection efficiency needs to be  improved.**
**Lack of Sensors**

## Lightning Summary 

**Collaborative Decision Making/Situational Awareness**** **
**Improved awareness of hazardous weather****	**
**Earlier track adjustment-minimal route deviation**
** ******** ****enhancing safety and fuel savings***
**Enhanced TS detection in data-sparse regions**
**Capability to determine which storm cells are developing to significant intensity**
**Discussion:**
**Satellite imagery & LR lightning data in GOM Project **
**OCND Product**
**Possible operational/experimental  product onto Internet, WARP (TMU)/cockpit**
*** ****Note: MIT/LL study: $16M potential savings for more efficient flight routing & reduction from injury due to turbulence.**** **

**Notes:**
An nws sponsored Experiment already in place. Need to get the airlines and others involved.

## EWxP Summary

- Significant opportunities exist to fill gaps in Aviation Wx Information
- Improve Airborne Sensors
- Use Sensor-suite Approach to Address New Hazards
- Adapt Existing Weather Products for Cockpit Use
- Provide Improved Information for Forecasts/Models via E-PiREPS, Ground & Space Based, and Airborne Forward-Looking Sensor Systems
- Partner With Others and Support Key Cooperative Activities to Achieve Safety Goals
- Federal Agencies
- Industry
- Academia

## Operator Support

- Dan Shafer

- Operator Support Lead
- NASA Langley Research Center
- d.b.shafer@larc.nasa.gov
- (757) 864-2651

## Operator Support

-   Overview
-   Accomplishments
-   Plans

## Operator Support Objectives

*VISION*
*	**Create innovative weather information solutions that significantly increase aviation safety*
- Develop enhanced weather presentations that minimize interpretation and provide enhanced situation awareness
- Develop decision-making aids which facilitate monitoring and collaboration

## AWIN System

**Decision**
**Aids**

**Processor**

**Presentation**

**User**
**Interface**

## Operator Support Trilogy

- Human-Centered, Systems-Design Approach

**How access info**
**Workload**
**Heads-up**

**Formats**
**Colors, symbology**
**Architecture**
**What info &**
**When**

**Alerting, Monitoring**
**Compelling info**

## Focus Areas

- NASA’s Role
- Cooperative Research Agreements
- Flight Deck Centric
- Strategic        Tactical
- General Aviation
- Transport

## Presentation & Interface Technologies

**Presentation & **
**Interface**

**SA**

## Decision Aiding

**Decision**
**Aiding**

**SA**

## Challenges

- Retrofit
- Workload
- Human Error
- Tactical Information Presentation
- Accessibility to Technology

## Research Activities

**Presentation & Interface**
- COTS Formative Evaluation
- H/F Guidelines
- Task Analysis, Accident Data Analysis
- 757 Flight Test
- Non-tactile Interfaces
**Decision Aiding**
- Naturalistic Decision Making w/ Wx Information
- CoWS Flight Experiment
- Task Analysis, Accident Data Analysis
- RTI FISDL

## Research Activities

**Studies**
- ERAU
- ODU
- GTRI
**Facilities**
- GA Simulator
- Transport Simulator
- GA Aircraft
- King Air B200
- 757 Transport
- AWIN Usability Lab

## Future Plans

- Formulate Presentation Architecture
- Adaptive, Reconfigurable, Portable/Wearable

## Future Plans

- Develop Interface Alternatives
- Non-tactile

- Courtesy of IBM

## Future Plans

- Enhance Decision Making

- Jeppesen Sanderson (1999)

## Summary

- Significant opportunities
- Sensors
- Weather products
- Advanced presentations
- Decision-aids
- Commitment
-  Industry
- Academia
- Federal Agencies

## The End

- Any Questions?