JP1.6
Performance Support Delivery System for use in Civil, Commercial, and Military Weather Training and Performance Improvement
Roger C. Whiton, SAIC, O'Fallon, IL; and L. K. Starlin, R. G. Borchers, and A. A. Guiffrida
This paper describes areas in civil, commercial, and military weather training and operations where performance support can dramatically improve a weather-related business and/or organization’s training and operational weather support performance. Currently, Air Force Weather (AFW) is using Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC), multimedia CBT-format Performance Support Delivery System (PSDS), in a training and performance (operational) support enhancement role at the USAF’s Operational Weather Squadron’s (OWS), better known as AFW “hubs,” where highly tailored weather products are produced and services are performed for multiple Air Force and Army installations located within a given geographical area of responsibility (AOR), worldwide. Because PSDS supports both training and operational requirements, its multi-task functionality makes it highly cost-effective while adding value to the organization’s support quality and capability. PSDS applications include weather regime animation, audio tutorials, terrain imaging using National Imagery and Mapping Agency’s high-resolution, digital terrain elevation data, geographical features, seasonal controls, and local “rules of thumb” factors that influence weather development, as well as practical information such as customer profiles, aviation/weapon/launch system weather sensitivites/ performance capabilities, weather impacts, and weather watch and warning criteria/thresholds for each installation within the hub’s AOR. In addition, effective weather hazard decision assistance tools (DATs) are immediately available to help improve forecaster skill in predicting potentially dangerous phenomena such as; icing, crosswinds, low-level wind shear (LLWS), severe weather watch/warning issuance, toxic corridor calculations, etc. In the case of USAF space launch range weather support; natural and triggered lightning, launch commit criteria (LCC) can be added. The PSDS incorporates highly adaptable software technology, and can be easily tailored to satisfy any weather user and/or customer weather training and performance requirements. Areas of potential PSDS use exist in the civil sector with such agencies as, the NWS, NOAA, NASA, and the FAA. Potential commercial applications can be envisioned with airline (passenger and cargo) carriers, weather services/TV/radio, schools/universities, consumers, etc. Additional military applications may be identified at the USAF’s space launch ranges, major/unified commands, US Navy, and Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), to name a few.
Joint Poster Session 1, Joint Poster Session with Reception
Monday, 13 May 2002, 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
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