Traffic Flow Management (TFM) is a function of Air Traffic Control (ATC). TFM is distinct in that its goal is to control flows of traffic in the National Airspace System (NAS) rather than control specific flights. In the United States (U.S.), TFM employs a system approach through Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) activities with system stakeholders, where consensus building is the goal in determining the best approach to a given situation. Stakeholders include ATC facilities, airlines, business and general aviation.

In order to manage traffic flows, specialists are trained to use a number of tools and techniques referred to as traffic management initiatives (TMIs), in order to minimize delay, maximize efficiency and provide for a smooth flow of the thousands of flights over the U.S. at any given time. The primary reason for implementing TMIs is the impact weather has on the NAS. Seventy percent of the delays in the national airspace system are attributed to weather.

The Weather Evaluation Team (WET) is a CDM subteam tasked to evaluate, introduce and promote weather capabilities to reduce the impact of weather on the NAS. This presentation will provide an overview of WET activities on-going to promote this mitigation with a focus on taskings related to convective weather and winter weather.