# Presentation: 188834

## Weather Camera Program

**Program Update**** **

- National Weather Service – Alaska Aviation Weather Workshop

- Nancy K. Schommer
- FAA WxCam Program Manager

- May 13, 2008

## Why - Improve Safety

**Deficient weather information in Alaska contributes to a higher risk of accidents and flight inefficiencies. **
**The effective use of automated weather systems is limited and costly.  And even with these sensors, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) statistics indicate that numerous capability shortfalls still exist. **
**The NTSB Safety Study Aviation Safety in Alaska, November 1995, recommended that the FAA assist the National Weather Service (NWS) with an evaluation of the technical feasibility and aviation safety benefits of remote color video weather observing systems in Alaska.**
**A “quick look” at safety improvements indicates a 25% decrease in weather related accidents within 25 miles of an installed weather camera.**

## What - Weather Camera Images

**Provide visual information of destination or en route weather and airport conditions to the pilot**
- cost effective means of information gathering and dissemination
- allows pilots, flight service station specialists, and dispatchers to assess current conditions for making go or no-go decisions
**Weather Camera images are a designated “supplementary” weather product.  In accordance with the Aeronautical Information Manual, supplementary weather products may be used for enhanced situational awareness.**

## Information Dissemination

**Images are made available to the public via the Internet at no charge**
- Username and passwords are not required
- Over 2 million website hits per year
**Images are updated approximately every 10 minutes**
**The previous six hours of images are made available as a time lapse image loop**
**Clear day images with visibility annotations are provided for each camera field of view**
**Site information is provided to include latitude, longitude, and location maps depicting each camera site location and individual camera angles are provided**
**Links are provided to automated weather sensor data (METAR) when co-located at the camera site**

## http://akweathercams.faa.gov

## Site Implementation

**Weather Camera sites are installed at airports and en route locations that have a predicted high accident rate.**
**Each site supports up to 4 cameras**
**Cameras are installed with fixed direction (pan, tilt, zoom is fixed)**
**Site requirements include:**
- Tower or mounting structure
- Power
- Communication capabilities (average image size 30Kb)
- Equipment Space

## Sites with No Existing Infrastructure

**Access is limited**
- Remote:  no roads
- Helicopter or charter
**Power supplied by**
- Solar Panels
- Wind Generators
**Communications**
- Commercial satellite internet services

## Installation Summary

- 63 sites were available in 2005
- 71 sites available in 2006 (8 were added)
- 82 sites available in 2007 (12 sites added, but Galena out of service for a total of 82 sites - to include 6 new pass sites
- 95 sites planned in 2008 (13 new sites to add)
**3 of the 13 already installed and operational**
- 221 sites planned available by 2014 (126 added)

## New for 2006 – Camera Sites Added

- The following new sites have been added to the public website in 2006
- Akhiok
- New Stuyahok
- Beluga
- Arctic Village
- Minchumina
- McGrath
- Wrangell
- Saint Paul

## New for 2007 – Camera Sites Added

**Fort Yukon**
**Valdez**
**Chandalar (Atigun Pass)**
**Chignik Bay**
**Puntilla Lake (Rainy Pass)**
**Rohn (Ptarmigan Pass)**
**Unalakleet**
**West Lake Clark Pass**
**Merrill Pass High**
**Merrill Pass Low**
**Birchwood**
**Cape Spencer**
**Note:  Galena was taken out of service when the Air Force Control Tower, on which the cameras were installed, was demolished.  Galena is expected to be returned to service in the summer of 2008.**

## Puntilla Lake (Rainy Pass)

## Puntilla Lake (Rainy Pass)

- North

- Northwest

- Southeast

## Rhon (Ptramigan Pass)

## Rhon (Ptarmigan Pass)

- North

- South

- East

## Merrill Pass (high and low)

## Lake Clark West

## Chandalar (Atigun Pass)

## New for 2008

**Berner’s Bay/Echo Cove***
**Iliamna***
**Savoonga**
**Wales/Tin City***
**Fales Pass**
**Galena reinstalled**
**Yukon River Bridge**
**Metlakatla**
**Taku Inlet**
**Yakatat**
**Hydaburg**
**Skagway**
**Homer**

## New for the Future

**The Weather Camera Program is proud to announce the FAA's decision to invest approximately $102 million dollars over the next 26 years for the additional installation of and continued operation of aviation weather cameras in Alaska. An additional 136 weather camera sites are planned to be installed over the next seven years. Together with the 85 already operational sites, this will bring the network of weather cameras to a total of 221 sites by 2014. The benefits provided by these weather camera sites will reduce aviation accidents, save lives, and prevent unnecessary fuel usage. **

## New Features to the Website

**List of All Sites**

**Map of all Sites**

## List of All Sites

## Map of All Sites

## Questions??
Comments...

**Comments...**

- Program Manager – Nancy K. Schommer, 907-271-5177