# Presentation: 691177

## Weather Applications Work Group (WAWG) Accomplishments and Plans

- Co-chairs:
- Industry:  Tom Fahey, Northwest Airlines
- Gov’t:  Danny Sims, FAA ATO
- February 2, 2005

- Government Rep

- Industry Rep

## WAWG - Mission StatementSource: January 2003 WAWG Meeting

- The mission of the Weather Applications Work Group is to identify, educate, and explore **all weather issues** affecting Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) and its **effect on Traffic Flow Management (TFM**). The Work Group (WG) has responsibility **to develop TFM** **strategies and implement operational change** concerning forecast of hazardous weather **(primarily, convection**) that are used to manage the NAS, including the coordination of **trans border issues** where appropriate.
- The second responsibility is to **lead and guide the development of the CCFP**, including CONcept of OPerationS (CONOPS), training, assessment, as well as improvements to the forecast. As part of this responsibility, the WG is charged with **defining the** **application and integration of weather products** in transition from **TFM**, to **tactical adjustment**, and subsequently to **Air Traffic Control (ATC).**

**Notes:**
The FAA provides oversight of air carrier operations through a set of rules called the Federal Aviation Regulations or FARs.  U.S. air carriers are legally bound by a set of FARs in part 121 of the Federal Code of Regulations.  These FARs mandate that part 121 certificated air carriers operating (U.S.) domestic and/or flag (international) flights must have a release document confirming the joint agreement of the pilot in command and an authorized aircraft dispatcher on the planned operation of each flight.  The document must be signed by both signifying their agreement and each is legally bound to inform the other of any condition or change that may not allow the flight to operate as originally planned or released.  Any condition or change must be addressed to assure the continued safe operation of the flight.  This joint agreement is the cornerstone of FAR part 121 air carrier operations.
Air Traffic Control plays a vital role in 121 air carrier operations by facilitating flight movement while assuring adequate traffic separation to maintain a safe operation and uphold the integrity of the plan as jointly agreed upon by the pilot in command and aircraft dispatcher.  This ‘shared responsibility’ is what we call, “The FAR 121 Air Safety PAD.”  The PAD provides a solid foundation for assurance of safe flight operations in our National Airspace System.  Any PAD member left out of the ‘communications loop’ can greatly degrade the safety and efficiency of any Part 121 operation.  Case in point: A three-legged stool always sits firmly on the surface to which it is placed.  Remove one of the legs and you no longer have the stability offered by the original three legs.  The same is true for 121 air carrier flights.  Remove one player from the SAFETY PAD and the safety and efficiency of the operation erodes. 
If we maintain the integrity of the FAR Part 121 Air Safety Pad, we will truly be “Enhancing Aviation Safety Through Collaboration.”

## WAWG Accomplishments - CCFP Intuitive Graphics

- 2 Confidence & 3 Coverage levels shown graphically
- Fill amount corresponds to Fcsted Tstrm Coverage
**Sparse Fill**  = 25-49% coverage
**Medium Fill**  = 50-74% coverage
**Solid Fill**  = 75-100% coverage
- Color corresponds to Fcst Confidence
**Blue** **Color** = **High ****confidence**
**Gray** **Color** = **Low confidence**
- New colors avoid confusion with sector alerts
- Ability to hide data block
- Notification when Canadian CCFP not available

## WAWG Accomplishments - CCFP Intuitive Graphics

## WAWG Accomplishments - CCFP Training Package

- Powerpoint presentation
- Overview of CCFP
- Identify the upcoming changes for 2005 convective season
- Identify strengths and weaknesses, and what the product can and can not do
- Address misconceptions and issues encountered in past convective seasons with the product
- Review a case study

## WAWG Accomplishments - CCFP Training Package

- Positive feedback from Training WG and industry representatives
- FAA & Industry Training planned
- Mar 8 & 9 to industry at the ATCSCC
- Also on CDM Training and Aviation Weather Center (AWC) Internet-sites
- All Industry Dispatch/Traffic Mngmt organizations encouraged to introduce training module prior 01Mar
- Parallel effort for Nav Canada and Meteorological Services of Canada

## WAWG Accomplishments - CCFP Statement of User Needs

- Annual revision
- 2005’s version is extensive due to changes in display
- Finalized at WAWG’s 13 Jan ’05 telcon
- Finalized document available on CDM WAWG Internet-site
- Separate technical production requirements formally provided by FAA to National Weather Service (NWS) Dec ‘04

## WAWG Accomplishments -Evaluation of ATM Wx Tools

- Action Item given to WAWG Co-chairs at April 2004 CDM Leadership Meeting
- WAWG Recommendation Distributed Aug 2004
- Priority #1: Add to ETMS/TSD a graphical display of vertical, high resolution, echo tops using color coded areas as currently used by CIWS, replacing the existing text labeling capability.
- Prior to final implementation: An evaluation of the impact on data latency will need to be completed.
- Priority #2: Address weather data quality and consistency of ETMS/TSD by adding the following capabilities:
- Additional display capability of already available high resolution Vertically Integrated Liquid (VIL) radar display.
- Software which takes into account different observation times of individual radar images included in the national mosaic products (Motion Compensation).

## WAWG Plans

- Focus on “Applications”
- Increase collaboration between Work Groups
- Assign tasks to sub-groups
- Reach out to Representatives from other CDM work groups
- Reach out to Representatives from operational community
- 2005 Work Plan
- 6 - 9 month efforts w/ Specific goals & deliverables
- 2005 WAWG meetings - 4 planned (Feb, May, Sep, & Dec)
- 23-24 Feb
- co-located w/ CTFM (May & Sept)
- Locations ?
- December Meeting: Date ?, Location ?

## WAWG Plans -Full Group Efforts

- 2004 System Review
- Action Item #12:
- The accuracy and utility of widely available weather detection and forecating products is often insufficient.
- Consider different weather products for strategic decision making.
- Assessment of convective weather products other than CCFP
- CIWS, NCWF-2, RUC
- Potential ATCSCC Weather Unit involvement

## WAWG Plans -CCFP Applications Sub-group

- High Level Objective:
- Develop a concept of use for applications of weather products used in Collaborative Traffic Flow Management
- Baseline approach by identifying actions that are taken by users of the CCFP
- Complete by September CTFM meeting
- Other potential tasks:
- Application of risk analysis methodology: Agenda item Feb meeting
- Transition from strategic to tactical

## WAWG Plans -CCFP Applications Sub-group

- Sub-group Acting Co-chairs:
- Mark Huberdeau, MITRE CAASD
- Mark Phaneuf, AvMet Applications
- Industry: not identified
- Initial discussions w/ ICE-FM in 2004
- First full meeting in December 2004
- Next meeting February 22 at AWC
- Members needed
- ATCSCC SPT reps
- Airline reps
- Facility Reps
- Operational personal as required based on target of work

## WAWG Plans -CCFP Evolution Sub-group

- Increase Fcsted Tops detail (2-6 hr time period) for Users
- A Perceived User Requirement (S2K+3,4 Identified as issue)
- Action Pending
- Behind Scenes
- Improve CCFP Production Tools for Forecasters
- One week demo of gridded forecast use by fcsters
- Test if it increases accuracy of areas & confidence
- Planned for 1st week of June 2005
- Results by September CTFM meeting
- Co-chairs:
- Producer:  Fred Johnson, AWC
- User: Vacant

## WAWG Plans -Verification Sub-group

- For CCFP Users:
- Complete identification of at least one measure and complete details of a plan for 2006 implementation.
- For CCFP Producers:
- Review all current verification statistics.
- Identify all verification statistics that are necessary for the producer and those that are in need of redefinition.
- Complete by September 2005
- For Canadian CCFP Users & Producers
- Develop a plan for a separate measure over Canada area
- Subgroup Co-Chairs:
- Producer: Jennifer Mahoney, NOAA FSL
- User: Vacant

## WAWG Plans -Terminal Environment Sub-group

- Access to More Wind shear Alert Information
- FAA is producing automated WS Alerts at over 120 airports
- Currently info for over 70 airports are not available to operators
- 34 of the 70+ Airports use WSP via ASR-9 to produce WS Alerts
- WAWG act a facilitator& clarify obstacles to WSP distrib to operators
- Resolve issues within 6 months (01 Aug ’05)
- Access to all Wind shear Alert Info via a Gov’t dev. web site
- WAWG act as source of User Specs for Web based display
- WAWG Coord. w/ Volpe on Web based display development
- Resolve issues within 9 months (01 Nov ’05)

**Notes:**
Here are the sites (& airports) currently available on ITWS Website:
1.   Atlanta (ATL)
2.   Miami (MIA, FLL, PBI)
3.   Kansas City (MCI)
4.   St. Louis (STL)
5.   Houston (HOU, IAH)
6.   Chicago (ORD, MKE, MDW)
7.   Potomac (ADW, BWI, DCA, IAD)
8.   Boston (BOS)
9.   Charlotte (CLT)
10. Minneapolis (MSP)
11. Denver (DEN)
Len Kurzweil   Volpe Center  Automation Applications Div, DTS-56
Ph:        (617) 494-2238   Fax:       (617) 494-2012

## WAWG Plans -Terminal Environment Sub-groupCont.

- Identify all current gov’t funded activities underway to produce convective weather forecasts for the airport & TRACON terminal environment.
- Complete by September 2005
- Identify convective weather hazard related decisions being made by Air Traffic in the airport & TRACON terminal environment.
- Complete by December 2005

## WAWG Plans -Terminal Environment Sub-group

- Access to Operational ITWS
- Currently there are 19 airports covered by operational ITWS
- This is in addition to 4 prototype sites (DFW,MCO,MEM,NYC)
- Currently operational site images not available to operators
- WAWG coordinate w/ FAA ITWS Team Lead & Industry Meteorology Group reps to obtain access to images
- Subgroup Co-Chairs:
- Producer:  Vacant
- User:  Vacant

## WAWG Summary

- Next Meeting 23 & 24 Feb @ AWC - Kansas City
- Accomplishments:
- New graphics for 2005
- Training package
- 2005 Statement of User Needs completed +45 days prior 01Mar
- Plans:
- Focus on “Applications”
- Sub-groups
- Applications
- CCFP Evolution
- Verification
- Terminal Environment
- Entire WAWG-Assessment of Convective Wx Detection & Fcst Products
- Questions & Comments?