The Stand Alone Weather Sensors (SAWS) system: An FAA program for replacement and backup of critical weather observations at Service Level "C" airports and Flight Service Stations

The FAA's primary goal for the Stand Alone Weather Sensors (SAWS) system is to enhance operational safety and efficiency at Service Level "C" airports throughout the United States. The SAWS system will serve two functions at these airports: 1) replacement of aging, operational weather sensors and systems with modern, more reliable equipment; and 2) service as backup to the Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS). This paper reviews the program's objectives, illustrates the SAWS system configuration and describes the required performance characteristics of the system's weather parameters. These will include wind speed, wind direction, wind gust, ambient temperature, dew point temperature and altimeter setting. The SAWS weather parameters will be displayed in Service Level "C" Air Traffic Control Towers and any associated Flight Service Stations (FSS) and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities.