Cockpit Weather Information System
Case Studies/Demos
There has been significant research over the past 20 years related to aviation weather hazards such as convection, icing, turbulence, lightning, and wind shear, but weather is still identified as a causal factor in 33% of commercial air carrier accidents and 27% of general aviation (GA) accidents. A continuing area of need
has been the collection, processing, distribution, and presentation of timely and accurate weather information to pilots in flight. In the present system, pilots rely primarily on voice communications for in-flight weather updates. Pilots can have difficulty obtaining weather information in a timely manner, assimilating that information into a clear mental picture, and developing a good understanding of changing weather trends. A flight crew that does not have a complete awareness of the weather situation may encounter unexpected adverse weather or may have difficulty making route replanning decisions. In-flight delivery and presentation of graphic weather updates to the crew should facilitate weather situation awareness and collaboration with Airline Operations Centers (AOCs), dispatchers, Flight Service Stations (FSSs), and Air Traffic Control (ATC) for safer, more efficient operations. Concept of Operations for the NASA Weather Accident Prevention(WxAP) Project, Version 2.0, 9 Jan 03.
The NASA Aviation Weather Accident Prevention (WxAP), Aviation Weather Information (AWIN) program, both under NASA’s Aviation Safety Program, have sponsored numerous simulator and inflight trials validating user needs. Documented results of two FAA-sponsored user forums validated further the need for weather information that is timely, easily interpreted, and referenced to planned flight profile for inflight use as well as preflight planning.
Real-time, graphical updates to weather hazard information are being demonstrated by the FAA’s Aviation Weather Research Program in collaboration with United Airlines. One addresses convective turbulence as detected by the Convective Turbulence Detection Algorithm developed at NCAR. Another is a convective diagnosis product for oceanic regions that is nearing operational transition. Sample character graphic displays for the oceanic products may be viewed at our Oceanic Weather Product Development Team (OWPDT) website.