IMPACTS OF THE DECEMBER 22, IMPACTS OF THE DECEMBER 22, 2004 WINTER STORM ON2004 WINTER STORM ON

FEDEX’S MEMPHIS OPERATIONFEDEX’S MEMPHIS OPERATION

Erik A. Proseus and Trevor K. HansenErik A. Proseus and Trevor K. Hansen

FedEx Weather ServicesFedEx Weather Services

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 2

Outline

• Introduction– Overview of FedEx Air Operations– Overview of Weather Services Department

• Environmental Conditions

• Impact on Air Operations– Overview– Cancellations and Delays– Package Volume

• Conclusions

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 3

FedEx’s Memphis, TN “SuperHub”

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 4

Night Operations

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 5

When things don’t go well in the summer…

Aircraft lined up forrunway 36L

following a passing thunderstorm

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 6

…and in the winter.

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 7

Weather Services, aka “Meteorology”

• Operates 24/7 year-round

• Located within Global Operations Control, which is the department’s primary customer

• Staff of 15

• Issue terminal forecasts twice daily for nearly 150 domestic and a few international locations with valid times of 16-24 hours

• Approved by FAA as primary source of forecasts for all domestic trunk flights and some international flights

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 8

Outline

• Introduction– Overview of FedEx Air Operations– Overview of Weather Services Department

• Environmental Conditions

• Impact on Air Operations– Overview– Cancellations and Delays– Package Volume

• Conclusions

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 9

Surface Observations – 22 Dec 2004

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 10

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 11

NEXRAD Loop – 1500-0300 UTC

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 12

ETA Analysis – 22 Dec 2004 – 12Z

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 13

ETA Analysis – 23 Dec 2004 – 00Z

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 14

ETA Analysis – 23 Dec 2004 – 12Z

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 18

Outline

• Introduction– Overview of FedEx Air Operations– Overview of Weather Services Department

• Environmental Conditions

• Impact on Air Operations– Overview– Cancellations and Delays– Package Volume

• Conclusions

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 19

Timeline of Weather Events

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 20

Memphis-Based Flight Cancellations

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 21

Memphis-Based Flight Delays

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 22

Memphis Departure Rate

12/22/04 Afternoon

12/23/04 Early Morning

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 23

Memphis Package Volume

AMS-MemphisE. Proseus and T. Hansen

2 May 2006 - Slide 24

Conclusions

• Significant number of impacts nationwide caused by a winter storm at a key location

• “The Butterfly Effect” – a small event can lead to much larger effects downstream

• Large-scale impacts are further magnified in a hub-and-spoke system

• Public perception and understanding – “I am shipping from Orlando to Seattle, why does the weather in Memphis matter?”

• Contingency planning refined