Modernizing the TAF in an IDSS Era

Although the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) has long been a world-standard aviation forecast, recent efforts within the National Weather Service (NWS) have intensified the focus on providing additional details that are meaningful to critical aviation users. These efforts aim to increase the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System. In recent proactive forum sessions with high level users, including the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and forecasters at the Aviation Weather Center, Center Weather Service Units, Weather Forecast Offices, Air Traffic System Command Center, and airlines, crucial information has been gathered. This information has helped us reshape the way we think of TAFs. Specifically, the feedback emphasized the importance of critical thresholds and thoughtfully considering additional lines and written discussion points based on what may be impactful to users and decision-makers. Together, these interactions allowed NWS forecasters to narrow down best practices that are largely applicable to all forecasters creating aviation-specific forecasts.

The author will share lessons learned from these sessions, covering convection, winter precipitation, consistency, and collaboration. Several examples of “what makes a good TAF” will be provided for the audience to learn in an interactive way how to craft an ideal TAF to fit in today’s Impact-Based Decision Support Services era.