Weather Services Outline and References by Olli
Surface Weather Data Collection:

AWOS: Automated Weather Observing System (Older System: Around since 1979)
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ASOS: Automated Surface Observing System (Newer System: Since 1991)
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Manual: Meteorologists manually collecting Weather Data
Types: AWOS-A and AWOS 1 through 3 (AIM 7-1-12 and Table 7-1-1)
Service Levels: A though D (AIM 7-1-12 and Tables 7-1-2, 7-1-7, 7-1-8)
The above systems and procedures are being used to produce the following 2 products:
1. Weather Reports = Weather Observations (weather as it happens)
 ATIS:
Automated Terminal Information Service (continuous recording of airport information essential for safe flight operations) (AIM 4-1-13)
 METAR: Meteorological Aviation Report (Mostly known as “Hourly Routine Aviation Report”) (AIM 7-1-31 and 7-1-32)
2. Weather Forecasts = Weather Predictions (weather as expected)
 TAF:
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. They are produced with METARs. Two consecutive METARs >30 min. <60min. apart. (AIM 7-1-31 and 7-1-32)
Other Types of Weather Observations
Upper Air Data Collection:
Weather data collected by pilots submitting PIREPS (Pilot Reports (AIM 7-1-21))
and by using Weather Balloons equipped with radiosonde transmitters that transmit temperatures, wind, humidity etc. back to the ground.
Radar Weather Observation: Surface based radar can detect areas of precipitation and is displayed on radar weather reports (SDs) and Radar Summary Reports (AIM 7-1-13)
Low-Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS): (AIM 4-3-7 and 7-1-25 and 7-1-27)
En Route or In Flight Weather Reports and Forecasts:
EFAS:
En Route Flight Advisory Service. a.k.a. “Flight Watch” on 122.0 Mhz > 5,000 AGL < 17,500 MSL provided by FSS (AIM 7-1-5)
PIREP: Pilot Reports – UA/UUA: Upper Air/Urgent Upper Air. Flight Watch is the central focal point for Pireps (AIM 7-1-21)
T-WEB: Transcribed Weather Broadcast. Continuous recordings of weather conditions along approx. 200 flight routes (AIM 7-1-9)
HIWAS: Hazardous Inflight Weather Advisory Service – for e.g. Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories like plus others: (AIM 7-1-10 (b))
o
AIRMETs: (WAs) Airmen’s Meteorological Information Valid: 6 hours (AIM 7-1-6 (c))
o
SIGMETs: (WSs) Significant Meteorological Information Valid: 4 hours (AIM 7-1-6 (d))
o
CONVECTIVE SIGMETs: (WSTs) Convective Significant Meteorological Information Valid: 2 hours (AIM 7-1-6 (f))
CWA:
Center Weather Advisories: Weather Warning for existing or imminent weather hazards on all frequencies but 121.5 Mhz. (emergency)
provided by the ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) (AIM 7-1-6 (h) and 7-1-10)
METARs (AIM 7-1-31 and 7-1-32)
Plus ATIS  AWOS  ASOS
TAFs (AIM 7-1-31 and 7-1-32)
Weather within 5 SM of airport
If TAF not available use FA
Products for your Preflight Planning Weather Information Sources:
For a Preflight Briefing: 1.Standard 2.Abbreviated 3.Outlook (AIM 7-1-4)
call
1-800-WX-BRIEF TIBS = Telephone Information Briefing Service and
PATWAS = Pilot’s automated telephone weather answering service is available before you talk to a briefer (AIM 7-1-8)
www.duat.com and www.duats.com (AIM 7-1-2 and 7-1-3) FAA Certified primary weather product.
www.aviationweather.gov FAA Certified primary weather product
http://www.nws.noaa.gov FAA Certified primary weather product
Printed Text Products: Reports and Forecasts
Graphic Weather Products: Weather Charts ref. (AC-0045E)
METAR:
Meteorological Aviation Report
Weather Depiction
(Outlook VFR/IFR every 3hours)
PIREP:
Pilot Reports (AIM 7-1-21)
Satellite Pictures
(just nice pictures) ;-)
TAF:
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (AIM 7-1-31 and 7-1-32) (4xday/24hours)
FA:
Aviation Area Forecast (AC-0045E page 4-17)
(3xday/12/6outlook)
Surface Analysis Chart
(Pressure Sys.Fronts every 3hours)
SD:
Radar Weather Report (AIM 7-1-13)
(H+35) ____________used to produce
Radar Summary Chart
(Precipitation location H+35)
FD:
Winds & Temperatures Aloft (AC-0045E page 4-35)
(2xday/12hours) ____ used to produce
Winds & Temperatures Aloft
WW:
Severe Weather Watch Bulletins: As needed. Disseminated through all available media (AIM 7-1-6 (g))
AWW:
Sever Weather Watch Alert Message: Preliminary message announcing a WW (AIM 7-1-6 (g) and 7-1-10)
AC:
Convective Outlook: Severe thunderstorm prediction (AC-0045E page 4-41) __used to produce
WH:
Hurricane Advisory: for hurricanes 300 ml of shore threatening a coastline (AC-0045E page 4-40)
(hourly, except SPECI if needed) _________used to produce
(2xday/12hours)
Low Level Significant Weather Prognostic (4xday)
Convective Outlook Chart
(day1 5xday)
AIRMET: (WA) Airmen’s Meteorological Information Valid: 6 hr. (AIM 7-1-6 (c)) Sierra=IFR/Mountain obsc. Tango= mod. Turbulence. Zulu= mod. Freezing. LLWS, Sfc.Winds >30kts.
SIGMET: (WS) Significant Meteorological Information Valid: 4 hr. Severe to Extreme Turbulence. Severe Icing. Sand-and Dust Storms, Volcanic Ash causing IFR
CONVECTIVE SIGMET: (WST) Convective Significant Meteorological Information Valid: 2 hr. Severe TS, Tornadoes, Embedded TS, SQ-lines, Hail >3/4 in. Sfc.Winds & Gusts>50kts.
Severe Icing, Sev.- Extreme Turb. is implied w. conv. Sig., convective LLWS