From: cantrell@seqp4.sequoia.com (Paul Cantrell)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: What DUAT should have been
Keywords: DUAT, weather briefings, aviation
Date: 20 Aug 92 17:16:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Sequoia Computer Systems


On the thread of what is wrong with DUAT, the FAA should investigate a
follow-on to DUAT that might have some of the following features:

1)	Uses a new system for collecting weather observations. All
	inputs to the system should be through a small computer system
	which insure all data conforms to a standard. Natural language
	remarks should be kept to a minimum. Basically, avoid all the
	parsing problems DUAT has by using a standardized binary
	interface.

2)	Takes advantage of the current trend of adding automated weather
	stations. These provide information when the humans have all
	gone home (I hate 4AM flights - I can never get any good picture
	of the weather because so few stations are manned 24 hours a
	day).

3)	At locations which won't have an automated weather station in
	the near future, an inexpensive instrument package together with
	an inexpensive A/D board gets installed in the computer system
	used by the weather observer.

4)	The reporting rate for SA's gets increased to at least 4 times
	an hour, and is saved for at least a day for trend analysis.

5)	Accessed with a fairly powerful personal computer. By the time
	the FAA ever got it ready for use, powerful personal computers
	will be quite inexpensive.

6)	Uses high bandwidth distribution systems. A few dedicated
	satellite channels, forwarded by most of the cable companies,
	would provide the ability to send large amounts of information
	which can then be selectively aquired by the user's computer
	system. The current multi-media trend in personal computers
	means there will be access to inexpensive hardware capable of
	dealing with high-bandwidth video information.

7)	Includes the following information as part of the default service:

	    - All weather radars, mosaic'ed to cover the entire
	      country/world.

	    - Satellite images as often as available

	    - Graphical weather products such as surface analysis,
	      prognostic, etc.

	    - All IFR routing information (preferred routes,
	      real-time traffic delay information, traffic
	      forecasts, location of airways, airports, any
	      other information required for navigational
	      use).

	    - All NOTAMS, (doing away with the concept of
	      published info - all accessable) with more
	      information helping to eliminate from the
	      briefing NOTAMS which are of no consequence
	      to the flight.

	    - Chart distribution. There's no reason that sectionals,
	      IFR enroute charts, IFR approach plates can't be
	      distributed by this mechanism. High resolution color
	      printers are just starting to be affordable and widely
	      available.

	    - More information about airports - the current runway,
	      approaches in use, %nominal capacity used should all
	      be provided in near real-time.

By making all of this information available in a binary standard,
the front end program running on the user's personal computer can
display the information in ways the FAA doesn't anticipate.

By making most of this information available over satellite channels,
the computer system can follow the user into the airplane, continueing
to provide this information during flight...

There's lots more that could be done...

					Paul Cantrell
					cantrell@sequoia.com
-- 
cantrell@sequoia.com