[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19594-19600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11010]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 946

[Docket No. 960418114-6114-01]
RIN 0648-AF72


Weather Service Modernization Criteria

AGENCY: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed amendment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Weather Service Modernization Act, (the 
Act), the National Weather Service (NWS) is publishing a proposed 
amendment to its criteria for modernization actions requiring 
certification. This amendment adds criteria unique to automating a 
field office to ensure that automation actions will not result in any 
degradation of service. Automating a field office occurs after 
automated surface observing system (ASOS) equipment is installed and 
commissioned at a field office and the NWS employees that were 
performing surface observations at that office are removed or 
reassigned. At sites where NWS will remain, such as Weather Forecast 
Offices, NWS will perform the necessary augmentation and back-up, 
therefore no automation certification is required.

DATES: Comments are requested by June 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of documents stated in the preamble as 
being available upon request and comments should be sent to Julie 
Scanlon, NOAA/NWS, SSMC2, Room

[[Page 19595]]

9332, 1325 East--West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Scheller, 301-713-0454.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 704(a) of the Act requires the NWS 
to contract with the National Research Council (NRC) for a review of 
the scientific and technical criteria for specified modernization 
actions. The NRC conducted this review and submitted the required 
report assessing the criteria to the Secretary of Commerce on July 28, 
1993. Readers may obtain a copy of this Report from the contact and at 
the address provided above.
    Section 704(b) of the Act requires the NWS to publish the criteria 
in the Federal Register, based on the NRC Report, after providing an 
opportunity for public comment and after consulting with the NRC and 
the Modernization Transition Committee (the Committee) established by 
section 707 of the Act. On March 2, 1994 the NWS published many of the 
required criteria as Appendix A to the general modernization 
regulations at 15 CFR 946 (see 59 FR 9921). These criteria were 
published in four categories as follows:
    (1) those for modernization actions that do not require prior 
certification of no degradation of service, i.e., commissioning new 
weather observation systems and decommissioning outdated NWS radars 
(Appendix A, Section I.);
    (2) those for modernization actions that require certification and 
that are common to all such actions, e.g., providing appropriate 
notification in the National Implementation Plan, describing local 
weather characteristics and related weather concerns; comparing 
services before and after the action (Appendix A, Section II.A.);
    (3) those for modernization actions that require certification and 
that are unique to consolidating field offices (Appendix A, Section 
II.B.); and
    (4) those for modernization actions that require certification and 
that are unique to relocating field offices (Appendix A, Section 
II.C.).
    Besides the proposed new criteria, the criteria for commissioning 
an ASOS and the criteria common to all modernization actions requiring 
certification are applicable to automation actions. These sections of 
the previously published criteria are attached for reference (see 
Attachment 1).
    At the time these criteria were published, the remaining criteria 
unique to automating field offices and the criteria for losing these 
offices required further development. Since no actions to automate or 
close field offices were imminent, the publication of these additional 
criteria was deferred.
    Developing the automation criteria required further coordination 
with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation 
industry to ensure that they would adequately promote aviation 
requirements. Developing these criteria also required further 
refinement of the NWS' Supplementary Data Program. There now appears to 
be general agreement between the FAA and the industry on aviation 
service levels suitable for incorporation into the criteria. In 
addition, the NWS has published a Notice setting forth its 
Supplementary Data Program (60 FR 64020, Dec. 13, 1995. Consequently 
the NWS is now proposing the remaining criteria unique to automation 
actions at NWS field offices. These criteria would be added to Section 
II of Appendix A to 15 CFR Part 946 as a new subsection D. The NWS will 
continue to defer publication of the criteria for closing field 
offices.
    As set forth in the NWS's general modernization regulations, 
automation consists of removing or reassigning the NWS employees 
responsible for taking surface observations after an ASOS has been 
commissioned. This process generally occurs in two stages.
    During the first state, an ASOS is installed and commissioned and 
begins to provide the official observations for the relevant office. 
Thee primary criterion at this stage is successful commissioning of the 
ASOS in accordance with the previously published criteria (see Appendix 
A. Section I.A.1). In addition, where the ASOS is located on an 
airport, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Transportation, must determine that the weather services provided 
after commissioning will continue to be in full compliance with 
applicable flight aviation rules promulgated by the FAA. Providing this 
determination is an additional criterion at these sites. This 
determination was completed on a programmatic basis per a series of 
letters between Dr. Elbert W. Friday, Jr., Assistant Administrator for 
Weather Services and Mr. Anthony J. Broderick, Associate Administrator 
for Regulation and Certification, FAA, dated, November 18, 1992, 
December 20, 1992, and January 15, 1993. These letters will be included 
with each automation certification in compliance with 15 CFR 946.5(b).
    At this first stage, the ASOS observation alone often does not 
provide a replacement for the manual observations sufficient to 
maintain equivalent-services. NWS employees and/or contract personnel 
have continued to augment the ASOS observation pending a determination 
of what weather observations, in addition to those provided by ASOS, 
may be needed and certification that the needed observations can be 
provided by other sources without degrading service.
    During the second state of automation, the NWS employees are 
relieved of their remaining surface observing responsibilities. The 
proposed criteria are intended to provide the basis for certifying that 
this action will not result in any degradation of service, i.e., that 
the data from the ASOS, together with the data available from other 
sources are adequate to support equivalent services. Automation of NWS 
field offices will only occur at those sites where there will no longer 
be an NWS presence. At sites where NWS will remain, such as Weather 
Forecast Offices, NWS will perform the necessary augmentation and back-
up, therefore no automation certification is required.
    For aviation services, an important source of additional data at 
many airports is that provided by on-site augmentation appended to the 
ASOS observation. The extent of what level of augmentation is necessary 
has been the subject of extensive consultations between the FAA and the 
aviation industry. Beginning in June of 1994, the FAA, the NWS, and the 
aviation industry held a series of workshops to define such 
requirements in a manner acceptable to the broad range of aviation 
users. The participants in these workshops established the objectives 
and framework for a joint demonstration project which was conducted 
over a six month period at 25 sites with bi-monthly reviews by 
industry.
    During this process, the FAA and the aviation industry refined the 
FAA's historical practice of tailoring services to the specific 
requirements of individual airports, ranking all airports, including 
the 143 airports served by NWS field offices that are subject to 
certification. This ranking was done according to a composite score 
that reflected three separate scores: one for Bad Weather Operations, 
which factored in both the percentage of time that the airport is 
subject to specified adverse weather conditions and total operations at 
the airport; a second for distance to the nearest suitable alternate 
airport; and the third for certain airport characteristics, such as 
categories of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) approach capabilities, and 
operational designations.

[[Page 19596]]

    Based on this composite score, the FAA and the aviation industry 
identified four categories of airports and the optimum level of 
augmentation for each. The levels agreed to are set forth in the 
Aviation Service Standards Summary chart in Criterion II.D.4 and those 
NWS airports in each category are listed in Appendix B to the 
regulations.
    The first category encompasses approximately 300 nontowered 
airports (involving 27 NWS field offices) referred to as ``D'' Level 
Service airports, at which the parties agreed that the ASOS observation 
should constitute the entire observation, i.e., no additional 
parameters would be augmented, and there would be no manual back-up. 
Those 27 airports with NWS field offices for which this level of 
service is proposed are listed as ``D'' Level Service airports in 
Appendix B.
    The parties then agreed on the basic level of augmentation that was 
needed for purposes of aviation safety at all commercial airports. This 
level, referred to as ``C'' Level Service, would include augmentation 
of the following parameters: thunderstorms, tornados, hail, virga, 
volcanic ash, and tower visibility. In addition, there would be on-site 
backup for the ASOS. This ``C'' Level Service of augmentation would be 
provided at all towered airports. ``C'' Level Service was determined to 
be the optimum level of augmentation at approximately 300 towered 
airports, including 51 airports with NWS field offices. Those 51 
airports with NWS field offices are listed as ``C'' Level Service 
airports in Appendix B.
    At 135 airports, augmentation beyond that required for aviation 
safety was considered optimum. These airports were divided into two 
categories: (1) those 78 airports (involving 40 NWS field offices) 
which received the highest score, i.e., major aviation hubs and high 
traffic volume airports with average or worse weather, referred to as 
``A'' Level Service airports; and (2) the remaining group of 57 
airports (involving 25 NWS field offices) that are smaller hubs or 
special airports in other ways, that have worse than average bad 
weather operations for thunderstorms and/or freezing/frozen 
precipitation, and/or that are remote airports, referred to as ``B'' 
Level Service airports. The NWS airports designated for these two 
levels of service are listed in Appendix B under ``A'' Level Service 
and ``B'' Level Service respectively.
    The maximum level of service, ``A'' Level Service, would involve 
augmenting an ASOS observation by a comprehensive suite of manual 
observations including either long-line Runway Visual Range (RVR) 
readings at airports equipped with remote RVR capability or, at other 
airports, observed visibility increments down to an eighth of a mile, 
sixteenth of a mile and zero. The ``B'' Level Service would add 
parameters such as ice pellets and snow depth to the ``C'' Level 
Service, but would not include certain parameters, e.g., cloud types 
and cloud layers above 12,000 feet which are part of the ``A'' Level 
Service, but which were found unnecessary because of less crowded 
traffic patterns and/or the less diverse and/or severe weather 
conditions at these airports. Both ``A'' and ``B'' Level Service 
airports (as well as ``C'' Level Service airports, mentioned 
previously) would have on-site backup for the ASOS.
    Criterion II.D.4a incorporates the above augmentation levels into 
the certification process for the NWS field offices involved.
    It should be noted that FAA funds, not NWS funds, would be used to 
provide the required level of augmentation at airports transitioning to 
the FAA. At the present time, funds are available to provide 
augmentation beyond the ``C'' Level only at those 22 airports with the 
maximum level of aviation activity, commonly referred to as FAA level 5 
airports. The 10 NWS field offices subject to automation certification 
among these 22 airports are denoted in Appendix B with a ``+''. 
Consequently, for those ``A'' and ``B'' Level airports at which funding 
is not available, the criterion would be that augmentation would 
continue to be provided at the existing, level (``C'' Level Service), 
but would be upgraded to the optimum level if funds became available.
    The delay in achieving the desired level of service at these 
airports should not be confused with a degradation of service related 
to any automation action. To the extent that there may be any perceived 
reduction in the level of service, it would be the result of funding 
limitations and would occur (or already has occurred) independently of 
the automation.
    As stated above, the FAA will be responsible for ensuring the 
required level of augmentation, by their own employees, by Limited 
Aviation Weather Reporting Station (LAWRS), or by contract, at all NWS 
sites being transitioned to the FAA and subject to automation 
certification. The NWS has developed a checklist to ensure the smooth 
transition of augmentation/back-up responsibility from the NWS to the 
FAA for those sites being transitioned. The checklist specifically 
takes into consideration the FAA service level standards and documents 
that the needed steps have been completed, e.g., ASOS equipment is 
properly configured. After site transition to the FAA, the NWS will 
retain responsibility for ASOS maintenance, observer certification and 
site inspection. Completion of this checklist is specifically included 
as an element of proposed Criterion II.D.4.
    Some weather parameters observed manually today will not be 
observed by ASOS or appended to those augmented observations supporting 
aviation services, at least initially. To ensure equivalent services, 
the NWS has introduced two new classes of observations: Supplementary 
Data Observations (SDOs), which are event driven, i.e., taken only when 
a phenomenon is observed and not at any scheduled time; and 
Supplementary Climate Data (SCDs), which are routinely scheduled 
observations useful for climatological applications and 
hydrometeorological operations. Both types of observations will 
originate at the 118 NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and be 
disseminated through normal NWS communications systems, the Family of 
Services, the NOAA Weather Wire, and various commercial vendor 
services. The full suite of elements which could be reported as 
Supplementary Data are described in the December 13, 1995 Federal 
Register notice. Of course, each WFO will report only those elements 
that it observes, i.e., those phenomena that occur in its area.
    Additional surface observational data in the ASOS era will also 
continue to be available from over 20,000 automatic and manual 
hydrometeorological sites, including cooperative and hydrological 
networks.
    Proposed Criterion II.D.5 requires that the certification include a 
determination that these data reported from adjacent WFO(s) together 
with the ASOS observation as augmented and any complementary data such 
as satellite and lightning detection data are adequate to ensure no 
degradation of service for all users.

A. Classification Under Executive Order 12866

    These proposed regulations establish procedures and criteria for 
certifying that certain actions to modernize NWS will not result in any 
degradation of weather services to the affected service area. They will 
not result in any direct or indirect economic impacts, and have been 
determined not to be significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    These regulations set forth the criteria for certifying that 
certain modernization

[[Page 19597]]

actions will not result in a degradation of service to the affected 
area. These criteria will be appended to the Weather Service 
Modernization regulations. The Assistant General Counsel for 
Legislation and Regulation of the Department of Commerce has certified 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
that these criteria, if adopted as proposed, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
These proposed criteria are intended for internal agency use, and the 
impact on small business entities will be negligible. The proposed 
criteria do not directly affect ``small government jurisdictions'' as 
defined by Pub. L. 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Accordingly, 
no initial regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980

    These regulations will impose no information collection 
requirements of the type covered by Pub. L. 96-511, the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1980.

D. E.O. 12612

    This rule does not contain policies with sufficient Federalism 
implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under 
Executive Order 12612.

E. National Environmental Policy Act

    NOAA has concluded that publication of this proposed rule does not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement 
is not required. A programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
regarding NEXRAD was prepared in November 1984, and an Environmental 
Assessment to update the portion of the EIS dealing with the bioeffects 
of NEXRAD non-ionizing radiation was issued in 1993.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 946

    Administrative practice and procedure, certification, 
Commissioning, Decommissioning, National Weather Service, Weather 
service modernization.

    Dated: April 29, 1996.
Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 15 CFR part 946 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 946--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 946 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Title VII of Pub. L. 102-567, 106 Stat 4303 (15 
U.S.C. 313n.)

    2. Appendix A is amended by adding a new subsection (D) under 
section II. Criteria for modernization actions requiring certification, 
to read as set forth below. Subsections I. (A)(1) and II. (A) are 
republished without change for the convenience of the reader.

Appendix A to Part 946--National Weather Service Modernization Criteria

I. Modernization Criteria for Actions Not Requiring Certification

(A) Commissioning of New Weather Observation Systems

(1) Automated Surface Observation Systems (ASOS)

    Purpose: Successful commissioning for full operational use 
requires a demonstration, by tests and other means, that the ASOS 
equipment, as installed in the field office, meets its technical 
requirements; that the prescribed operating, maintenance, and 
logistic support elements are in place; that operations have been 
properly staffed with trained personnel and that the equipment can 
be operated with all other installed mating elements of the 
modernized NWS system.

    Note: It may be necessary to incorporate work-arounds to 
complete some of the items listed below in a timely and cost-
effective manner. A work-around provides for an alternative method 
of meeting a commissioning criteria through the application of a 
pre-approved operational procedure implemented on a temporary basis, 
for example, by human augmentation of the observation for the 
occurrence of freezing rain, until such time as a freezing rain 
sensor has been accepted for operational use with ASOS. The ASOS 
Plan referenced below includes a process for recommending, 
approving, and documenting work arounds and requires that they be 
tracked as open items until they can be eliminated by implementation 
of the originally intended capability.

    References: The criteria and evaluation elements for 
commissioning are set forth and further detailed in the NWS-
Sponsored Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Site Component 
Commissioning Plan (the ASOS Plan), more specifically in Addendum I, 
Appendix D of the ASOS Site Component Commissioning Evaluation 
Package (the ASOS Package).
    Criteria: a. ASOS Acceptance Test: The site component acceptance 
test, which includes objective tests to demonstrate that the ASOS, 
as installed at the given site, meets its technical specifications, 
has been successfully completed in accordance with item 1a, p. D-2 
of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    b. Sensor Siting: Sensor sitings provide representative 
observations in accordance with Appendix C of the ASOS Package, 
Guidance for Evaluating Representativeness of ASOS Observations and 
item 1b, p. D-2 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    c. Initialization Parameters: Initialization parameters are in 
agreement with source information provided by the ASOS Program 
Office, in accordance with item 1c, pp. D-2 & D-3 of Appendix D of 
the ASOS Package.
    d. Sensor Performance Verification: Sensor performance has been 
verified in accordance with the requirements stated in the ASOS Site 
Technical Manual and item 1d, p. D-3 of the ASOS Package.
    e. Field Modification Kits/Firmware Installed: All critical 
field modification kits and firmware for the site as required by 
attachments 3a & b (pp. D-45 & D-46) or memorandum issued to the 
regions, have been installed on the ASOS in accordance with item 1e, 
p. D-4 of Appendix of the ASOS Package.
    f. Operations and Maintenance Documentation: A full set of 
operations and maintenance documentation is available in accordance 
with items 2a-h, pp. D-5 & D-6 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    g. Notification of and Technical Coordination with Users: All 
affected users have been notified of the initial date for ASOS 
operations and have received a technical coordination package in 
accordance with item 2i, pp. D-6 & D-7 of Appendix D of the ASOS 
Package.
    h. Availability of Trained Operations Personnel: Adequate 
operations staff are available, training materials are available, 
and required training has been completed, per section 3.2.3.1 of the 
ASOS Plan, in accordance with items 3a-c, p. D-8 of Appendix D of 
the ASOS package.
    i. Maintenance Capability: Proper maintenance personnel and 
support systems and arrangements are available in accordance with 
items 4a-e, pp. D-9 & D-10 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    j. Performance of Site Interfaces: The equipment can be operated 
in all of its required modes and in conjunction with all of its 
interfacing equipment per the detailed checklists of items 5a-b, pp. 
D-11 & D-19 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    k. Support of Associated NWS Forecasting and Warning Services: 
The equipment provides proper support of NWS forecasting and warning 
services and archiving, including operation of all specified 
automatic and manually augmented modes per the checklist, items 6a-
e, pp. D-20 to D-29, of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    l. Service Backup Capabilities: Personnel, equipment, and 
supporting services are available and capable of providing required 
backup readings and services in support of operations when primary 
equipment is inoperable in accordance with items 7a-g, pp. D-30 to 
D-32, to Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
    m. Augmentation Capabilities: Personnel are available and 
trained to provide augmentation of ASOS observations in accordance 
with augmentation procedures, items 8a-c, p. D-33 of Appendix D of 
the ASOS Package.
    n. Representativeness of Observations: Observations are 
representative of the hydrometeorological conditions of the 
observing location as determined by a period of observation of at 
least 60 days prior to commissioning in accordance with Appendix

[[Page 19598]]

C and item 6e, pp. D-27 to D-29 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.
* * * * *

II. Criteria for Modernization Actions Requiring Certification

(A) Criteria Common to all Types of Certifications (Except as 
Noted)

    1. Notification: Advanced notification and the expected date of 
the proposed certification have been provided in the National 
Implementation Plan.
    2. Local Weather Characteristics and Weather Related Concerns: A 
description of local weather characteristics and weather related 
concerns which affect the weather services provided to the affected 
service area is provided.
    3. Comparison of Services: A comparison of services before and 
after the proposed action demonstrates that all services currently 
provided to the affected service area will continue to be provided.
    4. Recent or Expected Modernization of NWS Operations in the 
Affected Service Area: A description of recent or expected 
modernization of NWS operations in the affected service area is 
provided.
    5. NEXRAD Network Coverage: NEXRAD network coverage or gaps in 
coverage at 10,000 feet over the affected service area are 
identified.
    6. Air Safety Appraisal (applies only to relocation and closure 
of field offices at an airport): Verification that there will be no 
degradation of service that affects aircraft safety has been made by 
conducting an air safety appraisal in consultation with the Federal 
Aviation Administration.
    7. Evaluation of Services to In-State Users (applies only to 
relocation and closure of the only field office in a State): 
Verification that there will be no degradation of weather services 
provided to the State has been made by evaluating the effect on 
weather services provided to In-State Users.
    8. Liaison Officer: Arrangements have been made to retain a 
Liaison Officer in the affected service area for at least two years 
to provide timely information regarding the activities of the NWS 
which may affect service to the community, including modernization 
and restructuring; and to work with area weather service users, 
including persons associated with general aviation, civil defense, 
emergency preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the 
provision of timely weather warnings and forecasts.
    9. Meteorologist-In-Charge's (MIC) Recommendation to Certify: 
The MIC of the future WFO that will have responsibility for the 
affected service area has recommended certification in accordance 
with 15 CFR 946.7(a).
    10. Regional Director's Certification: The cognizant Regional 
Director has approved the MIC's recommended certification of no 
degradation of service to the affected service area in accordance 
with 15 CFR 946.8.
* * * * *

(D) Proposed Modernization Criteria Unique to Automation 
Certifications

    1. Compliance with flight aviation rules (applies on airports 
only): Consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
has verified that the weather services provided after the 
commissioning of the relevant ASOS unit(s) will be in full 
compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations promulgated 
by the FAA.
    2. ASOS Commissioning: The relevant ASOS unit(s) have been 
successfully commissioned in accordance with the criteria set forth 
in section I.A.1 of this Appendix.
    3. User Confirmation of Services: Any valid user complaints 
related to actual system performance received since commissioning of 
the ASOS have been satisfactorily resolved and the issues addressed 
in the MIC's recommendation for certification.
    4. Aviation Observation Requirement: At sites subject to 
automation certification, all surface observations and reports 
required for aviation services can be generated by an ASOS augmented 
as necessary by non-NWS personnel.
    a. The ASOS observation will be augmented/backed-up to the level 
specified in Appendix B as described in the Aviation Service 
Standards Summary chart, except that, if funds needed for such level 
of service are not available at those airports listed as ``A'' or 
``B'' Level Service airports in Appendix B, the ASOS will be 
augmented/backed-up at the ``C'' Level Service until funds become 
available.
    b. The transition checklist has been signed by the appropriate 
Region Systems Operations Division Chief.
    5. General Surface Observation Requirement: The total 
observations available are adequate to support the required 
inventory of services to users in the affected area. All necessary 
hydrometeorological data and information are available through ASOS 
as augmented in accordance with this section, through those elements 
reported as supplementary data by the relevant Weather Forecast 
Office(s), or through other complementary sources. The adequacy of 
the total surface observation is addressed in the MIC's 
recommendation for certification.

BILLING CODE 3510-12-M

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP02MY96.015




[[Page 19600]]


    3. Appendix B is added to Part 946 to read as follows:

                 Appendix B to Part 946--Airport Tables                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      ``A'' Level Service Airports                      
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akron, OH*...................................  CAK.                     
Albany, NY*..................................  ALB.                     
Atlanta, GA* <SUP>+...............................  ATL.                     
Baltimore, MD*...............................  BWI.                     
Boston, MA<SUP>+ *................................  BOS.                     
Charlotte, NC<SUP>+...............................  CLT.                     
Chicago-O'Hare (AV), IL<SUP>+ *...................  ORD.                     
Cincinnati, OH<SUP>+..............................  CVG.                     
Columbus, OH.................................  CMH.                     
Dayton, OH*..................................  DAY.                     
Des Moines, IA*..............................  DSM.                     
Detroit, MI<SUP>+ *...............................  DTW.                     
Fairbanks, AK*...............................  FAI.                     
Fresno, CA*..................................  FAT.                     
Greensboro, NC*..............................  GSO.                     
Hartford, CT*................................  BDL.                     
Indianapolis, IN*............................  IND.                     
Kansas City, MO*.............................  MCI.                     
Lansing, MI*.................................  LAN.                     
Las Vegas, NV................................  LAS.                     
Los Angeles (AV), CA<SUP>+........................  LAX.                     
Louisville, KY*..............................  SDF.                     
Milwaukee, WI*...............................  MKE.                     
Minneapolis, MN*.............................  MSP.                     
Newark, NJ<SUP>+ *................................  EWR.                     
Oklahoma City, OK*...........................  OKC.                     
Phoenix, AZ<SUP>+.................................  PHX.                     
Portland, OR*................................  PDX.                     
Providence, RI*..............................  PVD.                     
Raleigh, NC*.................................  RDU.                     
Richmond, VA*................................  RIC.                     
Rochester, NY*...............................  ROC.                     
Rockford, IL*................................  RFD.                     
San Antonio, TX*.............................  SAT.                     
San Diego, CA................................  SAN.                     
San Francisco, CA<SUP>+ *.........................  SFO.                     
Spokane, WA*.................................  GEG.                     
Syracuse, NY*................................  SYR.                     
Tallahassee, FL..............................  TLH.                     
Tulsa, OK....................................  TUL.                     
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      ``B'' Level Service Airports                      
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baton Rouge, LA*.............................  BTR.                     
Billings, MT*................................  BIL.                     
Charleston, WV*..............................  CRW.                     
Chattanooga, TN*.............................  CHA.                     
Colorado Springs, CO.........................  COS.                     
Daytona Beach, FL............................  DAB.                     
El Paso, TX..................................  ELP.                     
Flint, MI....................................  FNT.                     
Fort Wayne, IN...............................  FWA.                     
Honolulu, HI.................................  HNL.                     
Huntsville, AL*..............................  HSV.                     
Knoxville, TN*...............................  TYS.                     
Lincoln, NE*.................................  LNK.                     
Lubbock, TX..................................  LBB.                     
Madison, WI*.................................  MSN.                     
Moline, IL*..................................  MLI.                     
Montgomery, AL*..............................  MGM.                     
Muskegon, MI*................................  MKG.                     
Norfolk, VA*.................................  ORF.                     
Peoria, IL...................................  PIA.                     
Savannah, GA*................................  SAV.                     
South Bend, IN*..............................  SBN.                     
Tucson, AZ...................................  TUS.                     
West Palm Beach, FL*.........................  PBI.                     
Youngstown, OH*..............................  YNG.                     
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      ``C'' Level Service Airports                      
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abilene, TX..................................  ABI.                     
Alltentown, PA...............................  ABE.                     
Asheville, NC................................  AVL.                     
Athens, GA...................................  AHN.                     
Atlantic City, NJ............................  ACY.                     
Augusta, GA..................................  AGS.                     
Austin, TX...................................  AUS.                     
Bakerfield, CA...............................  BFL.                     
Bridgeport, CT...............................  BDR.                     
Bristol, TN..................................  TRI.                     
Casper, WY...................................  CPR.                     
Columbia, MO.................................  COU.                     
Columbus, GA.................................  CSG.                     
Dubuque, IA..................................  DBQ.                     
Erie, PA.....................................  ERI.                     
Eugene, OR...................................  EUG.                     
Evansville, IN...............................  EVV.                     
Fargo, ND....................................  FAR.                     
Fort Smith, AR...............................  FSM.                     
Grand Island, NE.............................  GRI.                     
Helena, MT...................................  HLN.                     
Huntington, WV...............................  HTS.                     
Kahului, HI..................................  OGG.                     
Key West, FL.................................  EYW.                     
Lewiston, ID.................................  LWS.                     
Lexington, KY................................  LEX.                     
Lynchburg, VA................................  LYH.                     
Macon, GA....................................  MCN.                     
Mansfield, OH................................  MFD.                     
Meridian, MS.................................  MEI.                     
Olympia, WA..................................  OLM.                     
Port Arthur, TX..............................  BPT.                     
Portland, ME.................................  PWM.                     
Rapid City, SD...............................  RAP.                     
Redding, CA..................................  RDD.                     
Reno, NV.....................................  RNO.                     
Roanoke, VA..................................  ROA.                     
Rochester, MN................................  RST.                     
Salem, OR....................................  SLE.                     
Santa Maria, CA..............................  SMX.                     
Sioux City, IA...............................  SUX.                     
Springfield, IL..............................  SPI.                     
Stockton, CA.................................  SCK.                     
Toledo, OH...................................  TOL.                     
Waco, TX.....................................  ACT.                     
Waterloo, IA.................................  ALO.                     
Wilkes-Barre, PA.............................  AVP.                     
Williamsport, PA.............................  IPT.                     
Wilmington, DE...............................  ILG.                     
Worcester, MA................................  ORH.                     
Yakima, WA...................................  YKM.                     
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      ``D'' Level Service Airports                      
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alamosa, CO..................................  ALS.                     
Alpena, MI...................................  APN.                     
Astoria, OR..................................  AST.                     
Beckley, WV..................................  BKW.                     
Caribou, ME..................................  CAR.                     
Concordia, KS................................  CNK.                     
Concord, NH..................................  CON.                     
Elkins, WV...................................  EKN.                     
Ely, NV......................................  ELY.                     
Havre, MT....................................  HVR.                     
Homer, AK....................................  HOM.                     
Houghton Lake, MI............................  HTL.                     
Huron, SD....................................  HON.                     
International Falls, MN......................  INL.                     
Kalispell, MT................................  FCA.                     
Lander, WY...................................  LND.                     
Norfolk, NE..................................  OFK.                     
Sault Ste. Marie, MI.........................  SSM.                     
Scottsbluff, NE..............................  BFF.                     
Sheridan, WY.................................  SHR.                     
St. Cloud, MN................................  STC.                     
Tupelo, MS...................................  TUP.                     
Valentine, NE................................  VTN.                     
Victoria, TX.................................  VCT.                     
Wichita Falls, TX............................  SPS.                     
Williston, ND................................  ISN.                     
Winnemucca, NV...............................  WMC.                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<SUP>+--Maximum activity (level 5) airport.                                  
*--Long-line RVR designated site.                                       

[FR Doc. 96-11010 Filed 5-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M