The Evolution of NWS Aviation Weather Services in Chicago

Mike BardouNational Weather Service Chicago

Goals

– Improve collaboration among the NWS, FAA, Commercial Airlines, and Airport Operators

– Disseminate more frequent weather information– Increase service to aviation interests– Improve service delivery infrastructure– Develop improved tools for the forecaster

These are the keys to managing the impact of weather on the Chicago airspace and reducing weather related flight delays.

Initial Efforts

2-hr TAF updates on weekdays Improved aviation AFD format Increased collaboration between WFO and

CWSU Hourly updates to wind and POP/Wx grids Listen in on FAA/Airline strategic planning

telcons; better understand impacts of weather and forecasts

www.weather.gov/zau Developed as a one-stop source for Chicago

Airspace Wx information Development of wind and TS Tactical Decision

Aids (TDA)

www.weather.gov/zau

www.weather.gov/zau

Resources

Addition of 3 forecasters• cross trained as WFO and CWSU forecasters• allow a dedicated Aviation Desk 24 hrs a day/5

days a week Addition of Aviation Services Improvement

Meteorologist• allows for more interaction with customers and

expansion of new services

Evolution

Development of WFO/CWSU Aviation Team• integrate Science and Service aspects• build relationships and communication with

customers• assess initial service enhancements• develop/implement new service improvements• analyze significant aviation weather events to better

understand impacts and build forecaster knowledge base

• Develop training for the user community

Event Reviews17

5118

5119

5120

5121

5122

3022

4022

5122

5823

0423

5100

4100

5101

4001

5102

3902

5103

0703

3503

5104

0304

5105

1405

3805

5106

5107

5108

5109

2209

4009

5110

5111

5112

5113

5114

3714

51

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

Visibility 12/20-21/2010

VISTAF VISTEMPO VIS

Time (UTC)

Visibility-Statute

Miles

Evaluation

• Traditional– POD, FAR, CSI

• Measures forecast against forecast models

• We need to measure the IMPACT of our services– Wind shift lead time– Weather related delays

• Multiple causes even when attributed to wx• Some delays are inevitable

• Ideas?

May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr0

5

10

15

20

25

30

ORD wind shift lead time

2009 and Jan-Apr 2010May 2010 to April 2011ORD desired leadtimeC90 desired leadtime

Hour

s

Evolution – TS TDA

•Developed based on user feedback regarding winter operations and event reviews•Produced in GFE

Evolution – Experimental O’Hare Winter Precipitation Outlook

Scott Shelerud

Evolution

Improved Airspace-specific Support• ARTCC• TRACON• ORD/MDW Towers

Enhanced ZAU Web page Improved communication/coordination• NWSChat??

Layer ApproachBase Layer – METARS

• To the right CENTER specific windows for hazards

1. SIGMETs-ICE, TURB and TS

2. Approach and Arrival Gate forecasts

3. Compression winds (RUC)

If clicked; Side windows would ‘pop-out’ or replace the main display

Retain ‘roll-over’ capability to cycle through various map/displays

PRIMARY DISPLAY AREA

For windows 2. and 3. NOTE: Non-OEP airports would display enroute graphics to indicate impacts. RED, YELLOW or GREEN lines. Hover or clicking the line (major jet routes) would indicate the problem and time.AWC CCFP during the summer and NWS SFC map with features for the winter.

1.

2.

3.

Impact of the DayTop link would link to the bulletinMultimedia Briefing additional links to WFO products

O CurrentO ForecastO HAZARDS

Evolution - NextGen

Next Generation Air Traffic System 4-D Cube of data Additional gridded weather forecast elements• Ceilings• Visibility• Guidance for areas beyond TAF sites

Questions??