Performance Support Delivery System for Use in Military, Civil, and Commercial Forecaster/User Weather Training and Performance Improvement

Performance Support Delivery System for Use in Military, Civil, and Commercial Forecaster/User Weather Training and Performance Improvement

Roger C. Whiton , Lisa K. Starlin, Robert G. Borchers, Anthony A. Guiffrida Science Applications International Corporation, O’Fallon, Illinois and Satellite Beach, Florida

Abstract

This paper describes areas in military, civil, and commercial weather forecaster/user training and operations where performance support can dramatically improve a weather-related business and/or organization’s training and operational weather support performance. Currently, Air Force Weather (AFW) is using Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC), multimedia CBT-format Performance Support Delivery System (PSDS), in a training and performance (operational) support enhancement role at the USAF’s newly formed, Operational Weather Squadron’s (OWS), better known as AFW "hubs," where highly tailored weather products and services are performed for multiple Air Force and Army installations located within a given geographical area of responsibility (AOR), on a worldwide basis. Because PSDS supports both training and operational requirements, this multi-task functionality makes it highly cost-effective while providing value added to the organization’s weather products/services productivity, quality and capability. PSDS features include weather regime animation, audio tutorials, terrain imaging, geographical detail, seasonal controls, and local "rules of thumb" factors, as well as practical information; customer profiles, aviation/weapon/launch system weather sensitivities and performance capabilities, weather impacts, and weather watch and warning criteria/thresholds for each installation within a given hub’s AOR. In addition, effective weather hazard decision assistance tools (DATs) are immediately available to help improve forecaster skill in predicting potentially dangerous weather conditions; icing, crosswinds, low-level wind shear (LLWS), severe weather watch/warning issuance, toxic corridor calculations, etc. In the case of USAF space launch range weather support, the ranges’ natural and triggered lightning launch commit criteria (LCC) can be added. The PSDS incorporates highly adaptable software technology, and can be tailored to satisfy any weather user and/or customer weather training and performance requirements. Many military, civil, and and military organizations/agencies may find PSDS use extremely valuable. Additional military uses exist at the USAF’s space launch ranges, major/unified commands, US Navy, and Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), to name a few. Potential users within the civil sector include the NWS, NOAA, NASA, and FAA. Commercial applications can be envisioned with airline carriers (passenger and cargo), weather services (TV/radio/internet), schools/universities, overseas users, consumers, etc.

Corresponding author address: 731 Lakepointe Centre Dr, O’Fallon, IL 62269-3064; (618) 624-9005; roger@aristotle.saic.com