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Advancements in science and technology, particularly computer and networking capacity, have allowed many civil aeronautics authorities to expand and modernize their aeronautical weather capabilities and services with the intention of providing their end users with more timely, accurate, and ready to use weather information. The primary objective of developing and implementing an advanced capability is to provide high-resolution four-dimensional (space and time) aviation weather products to meteorologists, pilots, air traffic controllers, and airline dispatchers and station operators in order to enhance flight safety and aviation system capacity.

Since 1998, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has been partnered with the Taiwan Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) to develop an advanced aviation weather system called the Advanced Operational Aviation Weather System (AOAWS) for Taiwan aviation system users. NCAR's local Taiwan partner on the project includes the Institute for Information Industry (III) (1998- 2008) and InfoExplorer Ltd. (2009 to 2010), and International Integrated Systems, Inc. (2011 to present). The main objective of the AOAWS is to enhance operational safety, capacity and efficiency in the terminal and Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR). The AOAWS product suite is designed to aid both tactical and strategic decision making for the direct users of the system, specifically pilots, controllers, traffic managers, and forecasters at the Taipei Aeronautical Meteorological Center (TAMC) supporting the formulation of aviation weather products.

Illustration of the major components of the AOAWS. The WMDS is the Web-based Multi-dimensional Display System, an integrated display including all relevant aeronautical weather information. A high-resolution numerical weather model is at the heart of the system.

The AOAWS system includes Low-Level Windshear Alert Systems (LLWAS) at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTY) and Sungshan Airport, advanced aviation weather display systems at the Taipei Aeronautical Meteorological Center (TAMC), Taipei Flight Information Service (FIS), Sungshan Weather Station, TTY Weather Station and FIS, Kaohsiung Weather Station and FIS, and the Taipei Area Control Center (TACC). The AOAWS also includes a World Wide Web system that allows airlines, pilots and other aviation system users to have remote access to AOAWS products.

The AOAWS operational concept has been developed by coupling user requirements with current scientific and engineering capabilities. Extensive experience gained by NCAR during development, deployment and operation of the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), Low-Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS) and other advanced aviation weather systems for theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. and the Windshear and Turbulence Warning System (WTWS) for Hong Kong provides a solid framework for an AOAWS operational concept.

AOAWS System Overview

Advanced aeronautical weather systems, such as the AOAWS, typically include a high-resolution weather model, model data post-processing system for calculating aviation impact variables such as icing and turbulence, display systems that allow users to interactively view weather products both in plan view and along flight routes, and servers to disseminate the information to end users in remote locations. A conceptual illustration of the AOAWS is shown below.