This presentation will describe the development, implementation schedule, and benefits of an "application" (as opposed to "applet") version of the Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS; http://adds.aviationweather.noaa.gov) Flight Path Tool (FPT). It will also demonstrate some of the new features afforded by the application version.

The FAA Aviation Forecasts Product Development Team (AF PDT) is undertaking the work with funds provided by the FAA Aviation Weather Research Program. A key goal of ADDS is to enhance flight safety in support of the FAA's Safer Skies program.

We are developing an application version of the FPT because web browsers do not: 1) enable current ADDS applets to have a uniform "look and feel" across all platforms; and 2) universally support advanced versions of Java that afford many of the features identified below.

Our design for the application version features "pluggable" software components and scalable data handling and data formats. Benefits of the application include faster starting, common "look and feel," printing, saving of "settings" preferred by each user; and an "environment" to build custom graphics for specific flight routes.

Users will be able to: 1) change the order of layers (via drag-and-drop); 2) display contours on vertical X-sections; 3) display meteograms; 4) display grids for columns (pseudo soundings); and 5) configure fonts (size/color) and contours (intervals/range). Users will also be able to resize maps, convert units, configure pre-defined flight paths, configure animation, configure data layers, configure time range and intervals, move tool bars, and annotate displays via a separate data layer.