A Concept of Operations for an Integrated Weather Forecast Process to Support the National Airspace System

By applying the art and science of meteorology, National Weather Service (NWS) personnel provide weather decision assistance to enhance the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) extraordinary responsibility to conduct a safe and efficient National Airspace System (NAS). Accurate weather predictions enable NAS decision makers to direct aircraft at the right time and the right place with the correct weight of effort. NWS personnel play a critical role in the FAA’s air traffic control function (tactical control) and traffic management function (strategic planning) of the NAS and must be properly organized, equipped and trained to execute this role. Deficiencies in this role were identified in a 2003 FAA/NWS functional Audit of Center Weather Service Units (CWSU) and a subsequent FAA derived assessment of the Audit indicate. In response to the noted deficiencies, NWS leadership tasked a “Tiger Team” to develop a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for enhancing CWSU weather services. Subsequently, the Tiger Team developed "A Concept of Operations for an Integrated Weather Forecast Process to Support the National Airspace System.” This paper will provide details on this concept which serves as a guide for follow-on efforts to establish staffing requirements, specific procedures and directives, as well as determining required changes to appropriate planning, requirements, and training documents.