Aviation Weather ForecasterTraining Plans

LeRoy Spayd

NWS Office of Meteorology

Chief, Science & Training Core

Aviation Weather Forum

July 26, 2000

OUTLINE

• NWS Aviation Weather Forecasting Training Requirements

• Learning Materials Available

• FY2001 Development Efforts

NWS Aviation Weather Forecasting Training Requirements

• For all NWS job areas, subject matter expert meetings were held to define universe of potential training needs

• 288 total training units, 31 of which are related to Aviation Weather Forecasting

• From this universe, NWS has an internal process to prioritize which items to develop in any given year

NWS Aviation Weather Forecasting Training Requirements (cont.)

• Interagency team of experts defined a complete set of job-based training requirements for NWS,

Air Force, and Navy forecasters

• Forecasting Aviation Icing

• Forecasting Low‑Altitude Clouds and Fog for Aviation Operations

• Forecasting Turbulence

• Impact of Aviation Weather on Customers

• CWSU On‑Station Systems/Operations

• Issuing Effective CWSU Products

NWS Aviation Weather Forecasting Training Requirements (cont.)

• Highest priority training requirements defined by NWS field users support Service Areas identified in “National Aviation Weather Initiatives” document:• Ceiling & Visibility

• Convective Hazards

• Enroute & Terminal Winds/Temperatures

• In-Flight Icing

• Turbulence

• Volcanic Ash/Other Airborne Hazards

Learning Materials Available

• NWS/Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET) modules now available for access via the World Wide Web (Co-Funded by Air Force and Navy):

• Forecasting Aviation Icing: Type and Severity• Forecasting Aviation Icing :Icing Assessment Using So

unding and Wind Profiles• Forecasting Aviation Icing: Icing Assessment Using Ob

servations and Pilot Reports• Radiation Fog

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Learning Materials Available (cont.)

• NWS/COMET CD Module:

• Review of GOES-IR Imagery Including Winter and Icing Applications (done for Air Force)

• NWS/COMET Resource Data Set:

• Forecasting Aviation Icing: The Icing Event of 6 March 1996

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Available Convective Hazards Training Resources

• NWS has developed the following training for “Convective Hazards”:

• NWS Operational Support Facility/Operations Training Branch (OSF/OTB)

• WSR-88D Distance Learning Operations Course• Warning Decision Making Workshop• Supercell Explorer• Storm Type and Prognostic Soundings• Online case studies

• NWS/Central Region• Heavy Precipitation Supercell

Available Convective Hazards Training Resources (cont.)

• NWS/COMET • Anticipating Storm Structure and Evolution• Mesoscale Convective Systems: Squall Lines and Bow

Echoes • The Convective Storm Matrix• Online case studies

• NWS Training Center (NWSTC)• Local climatological data base development for

critical severe weather parameters (in conjunction with NWS/Storm Prediction Center)

Learning Materials Available

• NWS Alaska Region has provided a workshop for their forecasters on the “Volcanic Ash and Other Airborne Hazards” Service area - results of collaborative projects

• NWS/COMET hosts a Resource Training Web Page, which currently contains presentation materials on the following topics:

• Great Lakes Workshop: Mesoscale Convective System Case Study of 13 July 95

• Methodology for Forecasting Slantwise Convection• Aviation Wind Shear and Low Level Wind Shear

Weather Training for Pilots

• NWS/COMET produced a demonstration module on icing with multi-agency participation:

- OFCM - FAA - Navy- Air Force - NASA - AOPA

- Australian Bureau of Meteorology

• Implementation suspended due to lack of funding• Good learning experience to adapt materials for

other users

FY2001 Training Development

• NWSTC to begin work on a web-based unit on forecasting turbulence with the NWS Aviation Weather Center

• Continued development of web-based modules on “Forecasting Low-Altitude Clouds and Fog” by NWS/COMET

• Overview of Fog• West Coast Fog• Fog Cases

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FY2001 Training Development (cont.)

• NWS/COMET to develop and begin offering a directed distance learning course on Forecasting Low-Altitude Clouds and Fog:

• To include self-paced and instructor-led modules (including teletraining)

• Focus on “Assessing Physical Processes leading to the Development, Movement, or Dissipation of Low- Altitude Clouds and Fog During the Forecast Period”

• Course also will touch on “Forecasting the Spatial and Temporal Onset and Dissipation of Low‑altitude Clouds and Fog”

Summary

• Continuing to develop high priority aviation weather forecaster training materials

• If funded, these materials could be adapted for other users

• Web address for modules:• www.comet.ucar.edu/modules/index.htm