Aviation Forecasts PDT

The presentation will focus on recent key accomplishments by the Aviation Forecasts PDT and plans for the near future. Among the accomplishments are: 1) implementing operationally an "application" version of the Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) Flight Path Tool; 2) building an initial version of an ADDS data server that will enable users to acquire text forecasts and observations in XML format; and 3) successfully conducting a requirements evaluation for the Volcanic Ash Coordination Tool (VACT) in operational settings at Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC), Anchorage CWSU, and Alaska Volcano Observatory (USGS and State of Alaska)

Plans call for continuing to enhance ADDS by adding new AWRP gridded forecasts as they proceed through the FAA/NWS approval process, enabling the application FPT to acquire text data from the new ADDS server (thereby enabling quicker responses), gathering requirements from ADDS users in the Pacific Basin, incorporating additional information into the application FPT (RUC surface variables, satellite images, and radar images), and re-engineering portions of ADDS software to parallel NWS web farm architecture (thereby enabling ADDS to meet FAA QICP requirements for reliability and accomodate new products and services). Plans also call for enhancing VACT per user requests (e.g., finish implementing end-to-end product generation capability).