Federal Aviation Administration Examination of Space Weather in support of Aviation

Over the past several years the number of aircraft operations using the polar routes has increased significantly. The airlines recognize the importance of these routes to improve the overall efficiency of their operations. However the use of polar routes does require additional scrutiny by the operators because of the requirements that are imposed for safety of operations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the poles. One of the greatest challenges to the operators is to have reliable and meaningful information on space weather that can affect the normal course of operations. The FAA recognizes this and is undertaking an action to collaborate with industry and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Space Weather Prediction Center on the development of operational requirements for in-flight advisors or other types of messages that will support flight planning and Air Traffic Flow Management's needs, while also providing required hazardous warning messages to en route aircraft. This paper will describe the process of how these operational requirements will be achieved in support of NextGen and how this process is being done at the same time in support of the development of Standards and Recommend Practices for the International Civil Aviation Organization, Annex 3 Meteorological Services for International Air Navigation and in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization.