Over 65 percent of all system delays greater than 15 minutes can be attributed to weather, according to studies conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Access to timely weather information by the FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), the Central Weather Service Units (CWSU) and other service providers is crucial to improving the safety and capacity of the National Airspace System(NAS). The NAS receives alphanumeric weather data from the Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR) via the National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN II) Packet Switching Network (PSN). WMSCR receives its data from the National Weather Service (NWS), the FAA and the Military.

Surface Observations, Terminal Area Forecasts and warning products for aviation hazards are communicated between the FAA and the NWS. Normally the path between the NWS and the FAA is via the NWS Telecommunications Gateway in Silver Spring, MD. When the communications path is no longer accessible, then mission critical information is lost. To insure that both the FAA and the NWS continue to receive data, the Alphanumeric Backup Replacement System (ANBURS) was integrated with the AWIPS at the Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, MO.

A description of ANBURS and how it maintains uninterrupted alphanumeric dataflow between the NWS and FAA using AWIPS will be given. The steps that were taken to configure AWIPS will be outlined. Further, system impact, problems and experiences will also be discussed.