Order 7900.5B Department of Transportation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ORDER 7900.5B SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVING May 11, 2001 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Distribution: A-W(AT/TO/TX/TA/RS/RU/RW/RN/FS)-2; A-X(AT)-2; Initiated By: ATP-300 A-Y(AY)-2; A-FAT-0 (STD); AND-400 2 cys; ZAT-464; DOD; NWS; USCG Elizabeth City Facility 5/11/01 7900.5B FOREWORD The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes that the aviation weather system is a national system and that continued safe and efficient air transportation requires FAA commitment and leadership to aviation weather services. This order provides the practices and procedures to make weather observations an important part of the FAA’s overall weather services. The practices and procedures set forth in this order apply to all FAA personnel, FAA-contract personnel, and Non-Federal Observer personnel who provide aviation weather observation services. These personnel are required to be familiar with the provisions of this order that pertain to their observational responsibilities and to exercise their judgment if they encounter situations not covered by this order. Bill G. Peacock Director of Air Traffic Page i (and ii) 5/11/01 7900.5B TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................................................................i CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1 1-1. Purpose ...............................................................................................................................................................1 1-2. Distribution.........................................................................................................................................................1 1-3. Cancellation........................................................................................................................................................1 1-4. Effective Date.....................................................................................................................................................1 1-5. Explanation of Changes......................................................................................................................................1 1-6. Abbreviations and Acronyms .............................................................................................................................1 1.7 Relationship to FMH-1 and Other Documents ...................................................................................................1 1-8. Applicability of Procedures and Practices ..........................................................................................................2 1-9. User Responsibilities ..........................................................................................................................................3 1-10. Changing the Order.............................................................................................................................................3 1-11. Maintaining the Order.........................................................................................................................................3 CHAPTER 2. GUIDELINES..........................................................................................................................................5 2-1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................5 2-2. Types of Stations................................................................................................................................................5 2-3. General Types of Observations...........................................................................................................................6 2-4. Augmentation Requirements ..............................................................................................................................6 2-5. Backup Requirements.........................................................................................................................................8 2-6. Long-Line Backup Requirements.......................................................................................................................9 2-7. Certification of Personnel and Currency Requirements....................................................................................10 2-8. Types and Content of METAR/SPECI Observations .......................................................................................10 Figure 2-1. Guide to Contents of Automated and Manual Aviation Routine Weather Reports (METAR) and Aviation Selected Special Weather (SPECI) Observations...............................................12 CHAPTER 3. GENERAL PROCEDURES.................................................................................................................15 3-1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................15 3-2. Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................15 3-3. Aviation Weather Observing Locations............................................................................................................15 3-4. General Observing Practices.............................................................................................................................16 3-5. Dissemination ...................................................................................................................................................17 3-6. Dissemination Requirements ............................................................................................................................17 3-7. Corrections to Transmitted Data.......................................................................................................................17 3-8. Delayed Reports................................................................................................................................................17 3-9. Rounding Off Numbers ....................................................................................................................................18 3-10. Record Keeping and Forms ..............................................................................................................................18 3-11. Evaluating Weather Sensor Accuracy ..............................................................................................................18 3-12. Documentation of Observing Location and Facilities ......................................................................................19 Figure 3-1. Station Information File...........................................................................................................20 Page iii 7900.5B 5/11/01 CHAPTER 4. GENERAL PROCEDURES AT AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS ....................................21 4-1. Purpose .............................................................................................................................................................21 4-2. Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................21 4-3. Types of Automated Stations............................................................................................................................22 4-4. Certification......................................................................................................................................................23 4-5. General Procedures...........................................................................................................................................23 4-6. General Equipment Procedures ........................................................................................................................23 4-7. Procedures at Non-Federal Observation (NF-OBS) Sites.................................................................................24 4-8. Procedures at Non-Federal AWOS Sites ..........................................................................................................24 4-9. Procedures for Handling Aircraft Mishaps at Automated Sites........................................................................24 4-10. General Requirements for Record Keeping......................................................................................................24 Figure 4-1. Operator Procedures for Providing Augmentation and Backup Information...........................26 4-11. - 4-12. Reserved....................................................................................................................................................27 CHAPTER 5. AUGMENTATION AT AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS ..................................................29 5-1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................29 5-2. Validity of Data ................................................................................................................................................29