NWS Aviation Weather Meeting

1. NWS Aviation Weather Meeting Rick Curtis Myranda Muehlman Southwest Airlines April 15, 2010 1

2. “Why is my flight late?” 2

3. Somethingmagicalseems to happen to us when we get to the airport 3

4. We tend to get inside “the bubble” and we sometimes forget about the “outside world” ! 4

5. However, nothing will stand in our way as we try to get to our business meeting, or that well deserved vacation! 5

6. 6

7. 7

8. 8

9. 9

10. “Just keep focusing on the goal” 10

11. SWA Facts and Figures • 3200+ daily flights from 68 airports • 545 Boeing 737 aircraft (300’s, 500’s, 700’s) • Average flight length is 639 miles • Shortest: 133 miles (RSW-MCO) • Longest: 2,363 miles (PVD-LAS) • Southwest consumed 1.4 billion gallons of jet fuel in 2009. • Southwest offers the most domestic flights of any airline 11

12. 12

13. Top 10 SWA Airports As of 3/23/10 13

14. Snow Events 14

15. Snow EventsObvious - General • Do we have airport weather minimums for takeoff? • Do we have airport weather minimums for landing? • Do we need an alternate? • ceiling < or equal to 2000’ • visibility < or equal to 3 miles) 15

16. Snow EventsObvious - General • Do we have airport weather minimums for takeoff? • Do we have airport weather minimums for landing? • Do we need an alternate? • ceiling < or equal to 2000’ • visibility < or equal to 3 miles) Therefore, we should be good to go…right? 16

17. Snow EventsNot So Obvious - General • What limitations exist with the airport navigation equipment? • What limitations are there with Air Traffic Control? • What limitations are there with the aircraft? • What limitations are there with the Flight Crew? 17

18. Snow EventsNot So Obvious - General • De-icing capacity of the airport. • Where does de-icing take place? • What are the ramp conditions (breaking action)? • TSA Staffing? 18

19. Snow EventsNot So Obvious - Airline • Can the airline staff make it to work? • Can Customers make it to the airport? • Will there be a flight crew (Pilots and Flight Attendants) if previous flights were diverted or cancelled? • Will there be an airplane for the flight if previous flights were diverted or cancelled? • Do we have enough de-icing fluid on hand? 19

20. This just in… ...For these reasons the FAA is now requiring the useof the FAA Snow Intensity Table to determine appropriate holdover times in snowfall conditions (Table 1B, page 8 of the attached document) for all Types of anti-icing fluid (Type I, II, III, and IV). Because the FAA Snow Intensity Table, like the FMH-1 Table, uses visibility to determine snowfall intensities, if the visibility is being reduced by snow along with other forms of obscuration such as fog, haze, smoke, and etc. the FAA Snow Intensity Table need not be used to estimate the snow fall intensity for holdover time determination. Use of the FAA Snow Intensity Table under these conditions may needlessly overestimate the actual snowfall intensity and therefore the snowfall intensity being reported by the weather observer or ASOS, the FMH-1 Table may be used. Source: Official FAA Holdover Time Tables and Allowance Times Winter 2009 - 2010 20

21. Snowfall Intensity as a Function of Visibility 21

22. Ice Pellet Allowance Times Winter 2009-2010 (Type IV Fluid) 22

23. Meteorological Data Collection and Reporting System (MDCRS) • Seven Airline Participants (AA, Delta, FedEx, NWA, SWA, United, UPS) • Real-time data access restricted to participating airlines (ESRL web site) and government agencies • Aircraft obs are largely limited to winds & temp (water vapor is coming) • Aircraft obs frequently over-reported at airline hubs, and under-reported at less-busy locations 23

24. Desired Future State of MDCRS • Aircraft Weather Observations • Reported where & when needed through some level of data optimization system • Implement standardized reporting rate, fidelity, and format. • Delivered over standardized comm. systems (NOAAport) and available to everyone that desires real-time access • Implement an enhanced process for allowing additional program participants 24

25. NWS Water Vapor Project • NWS contracts • Awarded to ARINC for installation of 31 water vapor sensors on SWA aircraft • SWA teaming with ARINC and SpectraSensors on installation and certification issues for the sensor • Awarded upgrade to UPS to retrofit 25 current water vapor sensors on UPS aircraft with newly upgraded sensor. • Schedule • First SWA aircraft reporting water vapor data in February 2010. • Second SWA aircraft began reporting in late March 2010. • Remaining 29 SWA aircraft to be installed at the rate of approximately 1 aircraft per month. 25

26. 26 Source: FAA - RITA

27. SWA Ongoing Meteorology Challenges • Minimizing forecast variation for single station • TAF’s and more (Gridded Fcst, Zone Fcst, AFD, CCFP, SPC, etc.) • TAF still makes dispatchers world go round • However, now more frequently utilizing other products (This is a good thing) • Can be significant variation in forecast products (at terminal or within the local airspace) • Local Effects (terrain, lake/ocean boundaries) • Winter Weather • Ice (Never clear cut; fine line between nuisance and major problem) • Precipitation Type (Snow, Freezing Rain, Mixed) • Terminator/Originator Decisions 27

28. SWA Columbus Operations • SWA occupies 3 gates at Port Columbus Airport. • 5 terminating aircraft scheduled per night. • 25 flight arrivals per day. • All airplane de-icing is at the gate by SWA employees. • SWA has 105 employees at CMH. 28

29. 29

30. Columbus “Issues” • Often on the borderline between rain, snow and mixed precipitation. • A “popular” SWA diversion city. • A station that is often “below the radar”. 30

31. SWA Partnership with the NWS • We only use NWS TAFs for operational decision making. • Participation in meetings and workshops to communicate SWA operational decision criteria to NWS forecasters so they can better understand our use of their products. • Always looking for ways to help promote NWS efforts. • Assist with all levels of the NWS concerning aviation community usage of products and services. • SWA entered into an agreement with the NWS to install water vapor sensors aboard 31 aircraft and report data during all flight phases for use by forecasters and forecasting models. 31

32. Additional NWS support • TAF Suggestions • Utilization of VCTS, VCSH, and CB in TAF can be very helpful • Amend in timely manner when necessary, even if near end of TAF cycle (Important with regard to planning for fuel load!) • Watch Winter weather closely in terms of type(s) of precipitation included and the timing; TAF as consistent as possible with other products. • Aviation portion of AFD can be huge asset • Adds clarification, conveys forecast confidence, and presents potential “if/then” secondary scenarios • Provides access to local NWS office expertise on timing and type of precip, wind variations, ceiling/vis issues • Breaking out specific airports in aviation section is VERY helpful 32

33. Additional Helpful Actions • Familiarity with your airports operating criteria and local minimums • Working closely with your CWSU to ensure forecast consistency and awareness of traffic flow status • Web site graphics and details for ongoing events……many offices now do that…..again tremendously helpful. 33