Current CWSU Operations Current CWSU Operations and the ATWO Prototype of and the ATWO Prototype of

the Futurethe Future

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

FORMATION of the CWSUsCWSU OPERATIONEVOLUTION of and FAA’s plans for

CWSUsFUTURE of the CWSUs

Southern Flight 242Southern Flight 242

From Huntsville, AL to Atlanta, GAFlew into intense part of thunderstorm due

to attenuation of 3 cm onboard weather radar during the summer of 1977

Both engines flamed out due to hail62 of the 85 on board and 8 on the ground

died

NTSB Recommendation A-77-68NTSB Recommendation A-77-68

To formulate rules and procedures for timely dissemination by AT controllers of all available severe weather information to

INBOUND and OUTBOUND flight crews

in the TERMINAL AREA

How to do this??How to do this??

FAA contracted NWS to set up 3 person weather units in 13 Air Route Traffic Control Centers in April 1978

Used NAFAX, teletypewriters, telephones and Weather Bureau Radar Remotes

Added a 4th meteorologist and expanded to all 20 CONUS ARTCCs in August 1981

Routine ZDC OperationsRoutine ZDC Operations

Arrive on duty: 0530L or 1300LWeather Familiarization 1-2 hoursPrepare Briefing Sheet and 3 GraphicsBrief PCT and DC metro airports with a

Traffic Mgmt Coordinator by VSCSStandup briefing to OMIC, STMC and

operations supervisors

Routine Operations continuedRoutine Operations continued

Answer all weather questionsProvide Enroute Flight Advisory Service

specialist at the AFSS with a briefingHelp with AIRMET and adjacent ARTCC

Center Weather Advisories disseminationParticipate in bihourly Collaborative

Convective Forecast Product chat room discussions

Non Routine ZDC OperationsNon Routine ZDC Operations

Give verbal weather briefing updatesPrepare and issue CWAs and MISsDisseminate severe weather watchesCollaborate with other CWSU

meteorologists, AWC and WFO short term forecasters

Train TMCs and Ops supervisors on WC duties and Harris Wx Briefing Terminal use

Over the Years 1980s and 1990sOver the Years 1980s and 1990s

Not sure what FAA needed weatherwise??Tried to satisfy ARTCC’s needsNo clear managerial oversight by FAA or

NWSSome CWSUs & ARTCCs “clicked”Proximity of CWSU and TMU is importantEquipment upgrades:WARP, ARD, internet

FAA Consideration of CWSUFAA Consideration of CWSU

May 1993 Group assembled in Kansas CityConsidered Four Options1. Status Quo2. Consolidation using NWS meteorologist3. Have FAA meteorologists4. Contract Out

FAA CWSU ACTION PLANFAA CWSU ACTION PLAN

Replace all 84 NWS CWSU meteorologists with enhanced weather trained EFAS spcls

Hire all 84 nws cwsu meteorologist in FAAHire some of current CWSU meteorologists

and backfill remaining positions with enhanced weather trained EFAS specialists

Status QuoPOC test at ZHU ARTCC in 1997

Decision Based Weather Decision Based Weather needs for the ARTCC TMUneeds for the ARTCC TMU

Forecast parameters: ceiling, visibility, thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, llws, clear air turbulence and jetstream

For three time periods: less than one hour, 0ne to four hours and four to eight hours

For three different geographical areas:Terminal, Gate and ARTCC control area

NTSB Recommendation A-95-48NTSB Recommendation A-95-48

USAir Flight 1016 accident in Charlotte, NC on July 2, 1994

Called for operational procedures that would enable meteorologists to disseminate information about rapidly developing hazardous weather conditions (TS and LLWS) to FAA TRACONs and ATCTs immediately upon detection

NTSB Recommendation A-01-58NTSB Recommendation A-01-58

American flight 1420 runway overrun during landing at Little Rock on 7/1/99

CWSUs to be staffed at all times when significant weather is forecast

24/7 versus OT

ATT Plan for restructuring ATT Plan for restructuring /consolidating CWSU/consolidating CWSU

Committed to redefining the CWSU mission

Raise the level of performance to meet the needs of safety and capacity

Answer the NTSB and obtain satisfactory response to both open recommendations

Technology addressed NTSB weather sup-port concerns for ATCTs and TRACONs??

New Mission Statement for New Mission Statement for CWSU operationsCWSU operations

To be cognizant of hazardous weather information covering all phases of flight,

Participate in strategic planning and support the transition to tactical operations.

The mission is defined by the needs of the national system of traffic management that meet objectives of safety, efficiency and security

FAA-NWS Functional AuditFAA-NWS Functional Audit

Conducted at 7 CWSUs including ZNY, ZOB and ZDC April thru June 2003

Had two NWS representatives on the teamFindings biased to justify the ATT proposed

Restructuring CWSU PlanNoted 10 “deficiencies” some isolated to

just a few of the CWSUs visited

FAA-NWS Functional AuditFAA-NWS Functional Audit

Confusion regarding mission of the CWSU and who its customers are

Limited hours of operations (2 shifts a day)Non-standardized products and servicesLimited product utilityLack of system capability & standardizationLack of communication with aux facilities

Functional Audit continuedFunctional Audit continued

Lack of collaboration with other CWSUs and WFOs

Limited funding for training of CWSU meteorologists

Problems with management and oversightLimited resources to support the program

CONOPS for an Integrated Weather CONOPS for an Integrated Weather Forecast Process to Support the nasForecast Process to Support the nas

Submitted by CWSU tiger team in Dec 03 Work conducted in full consideration of ATT

redefined CWSU mission statement Team’s CONOPs attempts to address each of the

deficiencies noted on functional audit Provide a new 0 to 8 hour TRACON area forecast

for arrival corner posts and departure corridors Updated hourly or bihourly

New Standard Tactical New Standard Tactical Decision AidsDecision Aids

For specific pacing/hub airports and their runways For TRACON arrival corner posts and departure

corridors and a “compression” TDA For jet routes and ARTCC sectors (TS now) Based on known AT capacity rules for specific

weather elements tailored to specific local needs Enable TFM and other NAS decision makers to

coordinate and develop operations for the safe and efficient flow of aircraft based on weather impacts

Current Terminal Forecast MatrixCurrent Terminal Forecast Matrix

1.1. Made and updated using WARP Graphic Display EditorMade and updated using WARP Graphic Display Editor

2.2. Quick Replication is managed using copy function of the editor to replicate boxes while Quick Replication is managed using copy function of the editor to replicate boxes while setting up your templates.setting up your templates.

3.3. Each Office will have to determine the Terminal sensitivities based on discussions with the Each Office will have to determine the Terminal sensitivities based on discussions with the customer. Other offices may have more or different categories than DFW.customer. Other offices may have more or different categories than DFW.

4.4. Develop the Terminal Matrix for each hour of the day that the CWSU is in operation and save Develop the Terminal Matrix for each hour of the day that the CWSU is in operation and save each in your WARP map directory or it’s equivalent.each in your WARP map directory or it’s equivalent.

5.5. Color comes by using the Graphic Display Editor color tablet and clicking the individual Color comes by using the Graphic Display Editor color tablet and clicking the individual boxes. The product can then be saved on WARP and distributed throughout the ARTCC via boxes. The product can then be saved on WARP and distributed throughout the ARTCC via the BTs.the BTs.

Thunderstorm Forecast MatrixThunderstorm Forecast Matrix

for the Arrival Gatesfor the Arrival Gates

1.1. Made and updated using WARP Graphic Display EditorMade and updated using WARP Graphic Display Editor

2.2. Quick Replication is managed using copy function of the editor to replicate boxes while Quick Replication is managed using copy function of the editor to replicate boxes while setting up your templates.setting up your templates.

3.3. Each Office will have to determine the Arrival Gate sensitivities based on discussions with Each Office will have to determine the Arrival Gate sensitivities based on discussions with the customer. the customer.

4.4. Develop the Arrival Gate Matrix for each hour of the day that the CWSU is in operation and Develop the Arrival Gate Matrix for each hour of the day that the CWSU is in operation and save each in your WARP map directory or it’s equivalent.save each in your WARP map directory or it’s equivalent.

5.5. Color comes by using the Graphic Display Editor color tablet and clicking the individual Color comes by using the Graphic Display Editor color tablet and clicking the individual boxes. The product can then be saved on WARP and distributed throughout the ARTCC via boxes. The product can then be saved on WARP and distributed throughout the ARTCC via the BTs.the BTs.

0-30% Coverage = Green0-30% Coverage = Green

30-60% Marginal = Yellow30-60% Marginal = Yellow

>70% Impacted = Red >70% Impacted = Red

Arrival Gates and SectorsArrival Gates and Sectors

These TS coverage thresholds determine theThese TS coverage thresholds determine the

colors in the Corner Post TDA (previous slide.)colors in the Corner Post TDA (previous slide.)

Standard NWS forecast Standard NWS forecast production system for the CWSUproduction system for the CWSU

Collaborating on weather thresholds critical to enroute and terminal operations:

Improve services generated by awc & wfos Allow for interactive and on-demand dissemination of

CWSU-generated information to various FAA AT customers Collaborate with WFO on terminal to

approach/departure phase forecast consistency Collaborate with AWC on enroute to approach/ departure phase forecast consistency

CONOPS BenefitsCONOPS Benefits

Adaptable to any airspace & facility support configuration

Facilitates a “systems” approach to supporting capacity demands

Increases overall shared sit awarenessPromotes “functional specialties” in processCompels and supports strong collaborationTailoring of products & services to needs

TigerTeam RecommendationsTigerTeam Recommendations

Develop TDAs meeting operational demandDesign/Deploy standard CWSU workstation

better integrating them into core NWS opsShift cwsu mgmt & oversight to nws regionDevelop realistic & targeted trainingCooperative funding arrangement with FAADo simultaneous prototyping and implemen

-tation of CONOPS

NOAA NWS forecast information and NOAA NWS forecast information and services to the NAS proposed conopservices to the NAS proposed conop

Products tailored to decision making..TDAs resulting in less need for consultation

Need for verbal briefings succeeded by high information content easily understood graphical products..TDAs..designed for & disseminated to FAA decision makers

Value of in-person advisory services supplanted by products themselves..TDAs

Extending beyond TMU to entire AT community

Next Generation Air Next Generation Air Transportation SystemTransportation System

Developed by Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO)

Timeline for TDA implementation2006-2008 TDA Implementation2008-2012 NAS integration on DSR/ETMS2012-2015 transition to JPDO capability

with their 4D AT model operational

Recent CWSU eventsRecent CWSU events

ATT seemed happy with CTT recommendations ATT received several unsolicited bids from

private industry to take over CWSU program & may issue RFP in October

$500K earmark to Wx News Inc to develop remote weather briefing at ZOB & ZME

ATT had CWSU Activity Value Analysis done by Booz Allen Hamilton in Fall 2005

Activity Value Analysis TeamActivity Value Analysis Team

Visited 7 CWSUs like functional auditProducts with most inconsistencies in

perceived product valuation by cwsu & tmuEvaluated CWSU’s performance in 3 areas1. Overall importance to FAA mission2. Satisfaction of product3. Criticality of product

Seven Common ThemesSeven Common Themes

Lack of Standardization products,tools etc. No formal quality assurance process No formal feedback process Met training for CWSU & TMU not standard Knowledge of microclimates & local traffic flow

pattern important to customer Customers prefer ON-SITE CWSU Customers do NOT require 24/7 capability

NWS ATWO Prototype TestNWS ATWO Prototype Test

05-21L Monday thru Friday in July & Aug ZDC & ZHU CWSU mets = safety net Best Method for 20% fewer FTE & 24/7ops ZDC CWSU ops out of LWX WFO ZFW covering larger domain zfw & zhu cta What is being tested?? Remote vs present onsite weather support Development of Tactical Decision Aids Aug

Future of CWSUs Post Test?Future of CWSUs Post Test?

Aviation Prototype team will submit their recommendation to the Corporate Board which will forward their recommendation to ATT Oct

Present CWSU-FAA interagency agreement expires Dec 31st with optional one year extension

2007 may be time of transition with 20% reduc- tion in CWSU FTEs for FY 08 and 09, or CWSU contracted out or status quo or earmark