Alaska Aviation Weather &The Alaska Aviation System Plan

Alaska DOT&PF

Statewide Aviation

Weather Working Group

Background• An examination of weather reporting stations

as part of the latest multifaceted Alaska Aviation System Plan Update

• Weather Working Group Created

• Working Group Members

– Various government agencies (State, FAA, NOAA)

– Various industry groups (AACA, AOPA, AAA)

– Other notable individuals and business reps

Working Group Members

• Adam White – AK Airmen's Assoc.

• Angel Corona – NOAA

• Becca Rauf – ADOT&PF

• Dan Owen – Air Taxi Rep

• Dave Palmer – Local Business Rep

• Don Moore – NOAA

• Jane Dale – AACA

• Jim Miller – AWOS Inc. Tech Rep

• JoAnn Ford – FAA Nav. Services

• Judy Chapman – ADOT&PF N.R.

• Katrina Moss – FAA

• Kyle Christiansen – FAA ATO, WSC

• Mark Tormanen – FAA

• Rich Sewell – ADOT&PF

• Tahte Perkins – FAA

• Tom George – AOPA

• Tracey Hegna – FAA

• Troy LaRue – ADOT&PF

• Verne Skagerberg – ADOT&PF

• Wolfgang Junge – ADOT&PF C.R.

• Leah Henderson – DOWL

• Jim Greil – DOWL

• Mark Mayo - DOWL

Weather Work Group Goal

• Goal

– The AASP Weather Working Group’s primary goal is to determine ways to help increase the number of aviation weather stations throughout Alaska

Weather WG Scope (Condensed)

• Catalog:

– Location and types of existing official weather reporting stations

– Location and types of other weather reporting stations within Alaska

– Alaskan airports that have IAPs but no on‐field weather reporting

– Alaskan airports that have no on‐field airport weather reporting

• Create a priority list of airports in need of on‐field aviation weather reporting capabilities

• Determine suitable sites near airports for station development with power and communication

• Create weather white paper brief

• Describe benefits to Alaska of additional weather sensors and stations

• Determine options available for funding identified weather needs

• Review weather camera inventory and recommend new locations

Steps Taken

• Identified the evolving inventory of critical airports in need of supplemental weather

• Created a priority list of airports, using filters and priority equation– 21 airports with approaches but no onsite weather are

highest priorities – Other filters - EAS airports, AWOS ready, distance to

other stations, level of service, webcam availability• Exploration of Non-Fed AWOS development potential• Surveys (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AirportWS)• “Aviation Weather Reporting In Alaska” report published

on Alaska AASP website (alaskaasp.com)

Cataloging Approved and Advisory Aviation Weather Reporting Resources

• Approximately 150 approved aviation weather sources (AWOS, ASOS, AWSS, etc.)

• Dozens of advisory aviation weather reporting resources located on airports and many others off field

• Approximately 230 weather webcams

Prioritization Equation

NPIAS Level of Service

+ Enplanements

+ AASP Class

+ Dist. from Certified Station

= Priority

• All Airports with a published IAP and without certified aviation weather have top priority

• NPIAS Level of Service - 30 points• Primary……………………30• Commercial Service…20• General Aviation……..10 • Non-NPIAS……………….0

• Number of Enplanements - 20 points• Bethel receives 20 points• Others determined by dividing by Bethel’s enplanements of 148,168

• AASP Classification - 10 points• Regional Class …………………….10• Community Off Road……………9 • Community On Road …………..8• Local NPIAS Higher Activity….7• Local NPIAS Lower Activity…..6• Non NPIAS……………………………5

• Distance from certified weather station - 10 points• 70-75 miles - 20 65-70 miles - 18• 60-65 miles - 16 55-60 miles - 14 • 45-55 miles - 12 35-45 miles - 10 • 25-35 miles - 8 15-25 miles - 6 • 5-15 miles - 4 0-5 miles - 2 • Has weather station - 0

Airports With Instrument Procedures Without Approved Onsite Weather

“Aviation Weather Reporting In Alaska”

• Intro to Aviation Weather Observations• What Are “Approved” and “Advisory” Aviation Weather

Sources• The FAA’s Weather Network• “Approved” Aviation Weather Sensors and Observers• Funding of Approved Weather Stations and the FAA’s Non-Fed

Program• “Advisory” Weather Sensors• Existing Alaska Weather Stations• How Other States Assist with Aviation Weather Reporting

Needs• Recent Changes in the System

Some Next Steps

• Accepting and integrating user feedback into the priorities

• Finalization of priority list with working group

• Preparing Working Group Summary Paper

Survey Reminder• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AirportWS

• Or fill out in person at the DOT & PF Booth

Funding Discussion

• JoAnn Ford – FAA

• Navigation Programs Engineering Team

• FAA ATO/PMO

• Enterprise Services, Navigation Programs

• Orville Wright FAA Federal Building

• (work) 202.267.4543 (cell) 202.577.9790

• gbtusa

16Federal AviationAdministration

Enterprise Services Updates

February 8, 2017

• 24 Alaska AWSS systems

planned be Tech Refreshed to

AWOS-C by 2016– 24 sites completed

– 0 sites remaining

Automated Weather Sensor System

(AWSS) Tech Refresh

17Federal AviationAdministration

Enterprise Services Updates

February 8, 2017

Automated Weather Observing System

(AWOS) Tech Refresh

• 44 Alaska AWOS systems

planned to be Tech Refreshed to

AWOS-C by 2017– 24 sites completed

– 20 sites remaining

General Discussion of Funding• Non Fed Program

– FAA AC 150/5220-16D

– Can be funded by any source

– Allows the station to be connected to WMSCR

– AIP money

• Capital cost only

General Discussion of Funding

Approximate Costs for AWOS Development

• Construction/Site Prep : $100,000

• Equipment : $100,000

• Telco : Non-recurring - $20,000 first 2 years, recurring $5,000/year after

• Installation : $50,000

Relevant Documents

• FAA AC 150-5220-16D– Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) For Non-Federal Applications

• Sharing Your Non-Fed AWOS Data With the FAA and Aviation Community– FAQ guidance document

Jeffrey M. Osiensky

Deputy Chief, Environmental and Scientific Services Division (ESSD)Regional Warning Coordination, Aviation, and Volcanic Ash Program Manager

NOAA/National Weather ServiceAlaska Region Headquarters222 West 7th Avenue, #23 Room 517Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7575

Kyle R. Christiansen

Flight Procedures TeamFAA, ATO, WSCOperations Support Group, AJV-W24 Primary (Cell): 907-841-6764Office: 907-271-5187