This three-hour lesson describes the impacts of weather on aviation operations and highlights the role of the National Weather Service (NWS) in supporting the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic management organization. The lesson contains an Introduction (40 min), several cases (10-20 min each) focused on various weather phenomena, and a detailed case (35 min) allowing forecasters to follow the planning for and evolution of an event. The content emphasizes best practices for aviation forecasters, including identifying and communicating the threat, understanding partners' needs, and anticipating the impacts to airspace operations.
Identify the components of the National Airspace System (NAS)
Describe the components of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO)
Identify how various weather events affect the NAS and its different components
Describe the needs of the FAA for weather information
Produce a briefing that meets these needs for various situations, in a language appropriate to the FAA
Given various weather or natural hazards, follow best practices for forecasters in the Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs), Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC), Aviation Weather Center (AWC), and Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) to:
Identify their aviation partners’ needs and decide what coordination efforts to initiate
Communicate weather information about the issues of greatest concern to their FAA partners for terminal and en route operations
List key ways that aviation meteorologists provide Decision Support Services to the NAS
aviation, weather, thunderstorms, convection, turbulence, fog, snow, winds, crosswinds, mountain wave, volcanic ash, space weather, national airspace system, FAA, Center Weather Service Unit, CWSU, Weather Forecast Office, WFO, Aviation Weather Center, Air Traffic Control System Command Center, ATCSCC, capacity, ground delay, ground stop, traffic management
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