Impact-Based Decision Support Services Collaboration between NWS and FAA: 100th PGA Tournament Aviation Planning and Enhanced Services

The 100th PGA Tournament in St. Louis, MO from August 6-12, 2018 required advanced planning by the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in St. Louis, MO with local emergency management officials. Upon analysis of aviation impacts, the WFO began collaborating with the Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) in Kansas City, co-located with the FAA Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) who has responsibility for the airspace in and around St. Louis. The ARTCC Traffic Management Officer (TMO) analyzed data which showed a potentially impactful increase in air traffic at the smaller general aviation airport near the golf course, the Spirit of St. Louis (SUS). The TMO’s air traffic forecast helped guide service for SUS, and the WFO provided temporary 3-hourly updates from the WFO based on air traffic expectations before, during and after the PGA tournament. The WFO and CWSU collaborated airport forecasts during this time period to ensure consistent messaging. The CWSU also communicated forecast and contact information with FAA partners at the ARTCC, St. Louis area airport towers, and St. Louis Terminal Radar Approach Control Center. This model of aviation IDSS folded into local IDSS planning resulted in interagency collaboration which served both federal partners and the general aviation community.