Afman15-111 FEB2013.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY AIR FORCE MANUAL 15-111 OF THE AIR FORCE 27 FEBRUARY 2013 Weather SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY ACCESSIBILITY: This publication is available for downloading from the e-publishing website at www.e-publishing.af.mil RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication OPR: HQ USAF/A3O-WP Certified by: HQ USAF/A3O-W (Dr. Fred P. Lewis) Supersedes: AFMAN 15-111, Pages: 118 10 March 2009 This manual implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 15-1, Atmospheric and Space Environmental Support. It also implements Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1 (FCM-H1) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Manual on Codes, Volume I.1, Part A (WMO 306, Vol I.1, Part A) aerodrome routine meteorological reports (FM-15 METAR) and aerodrome special meteorological reports (FM-16 SPECI) codes. It prescribes basic observing fundamentals and terms and establishes aviation code forms for recording and disseminating weather observations. It applies to all Active and Reserve Component organizations conducting weather operations, including government-contracted weather operations if stated in the Statement of Work or Performance Work Statement. This Air Force (AF) Manual (AFMAN) may be supplemented at any level, but all supplements must be routed to AF/A3O-WP, 1490 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1490 for coordination prior to certification and approval. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to AF/A3O-WP using the AF 847, Recommendation for Change of Publication; route AF 847s from the field through Major Command (MAJCOM) publications/forms managers. Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with AFMAN 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in accordance with the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) located in the Air Force Records Information Management System (AFRIMS). The use of the name or mark of any specific manufacturer, commercial product, commodity or service in this publication does not imply endorsement by the Air Force. 2 AFMAN15-111 27 FEBRUARY 2013 SUMMARY OF CHANGES This revision substantially reorganizes and streamlines weather observing practices within Air Force weather. Included are policies requiring full automation of weather observing systems and procedures for augmenting automated meteorological observing systems. Many legacy practices and systems, including earthquake reporting, nuclear accident reporting, ML-102 aneroid barometer, and Digital Barometer and Altimeter Setting Indicator have been deleted. Chapter 1—INTRODUCTION 7 1.1. Background Information. .................................................................................... 7 1.2. General. .............................................................................................................. 7 1.3. Applicability of Procedures. ............................................................................... 7 Chapter 2—GENERAL OBSERVING INFORMATION 8 2.1. General. .............................................................................................................. 8 2.2. Automated Meteorological Observing Systems (AMOS). ................................... 8 2.3. Fixed Meteorological Equipment. ....................................................................... 9 2.4. Certification Requirements. ................................................................................ 9 2.5. Station Information File. ..................................................................................... 9 2.6. Accuracy of Time. .............................................................................................. 10 2.7. Aviation Weather Code Forms. ........................................................................... 10 2.8. Observed Elements. ............................................................................................ 11 2.9. Installation Observation Requirements. ............................................................... 12 2.10. Unofficial Weather Reports. ............................................................................... 13 2.11. Points of Observation. ........................................................................................ 13 2.12. Rounding of Figures and Values. ........................................................................ 13 2.13. Alternate Operating Location (AOL). ................................................................. 14 2.14. Weather Watch. .................................................................................................. 15 2.15. Cooperative Weather Watch. .............................................................................. 15 2.16. Control Tower Observations and Weather Observing Location Actions. ............. 16 2.17. Observing Aids for Visibility. ............................................................................. 16 Figure 2.1. Example Visibility Checkpoint Photograph ......................................................... 17 2.18. Aircraft Mishap. ................................................................................................. 18 2.19. Supplementary Data for an Inactive or Parallel Runway. ..................................... 18 2.20. Instrument Procedures. ....................................................................................... 18 Chapter 3—AUGMENTATION 20 AFMAN15-111 27 FEBRUARY 2013 3 3.1. Purpose. ............................................................................................................. 20 3.2. Augmentation. .................................................................................................... 20 3.3. Supplementing AMOSs. ..................................................................................... 21 Table 3.1. Summary of Mandatory ...................................................................................... 21 3.4. Back-up of an AMOS. ........................................................................................ 22 3.5. Back-up Equipment. ........................................................................................... 22 3.6. Maintenance Procedures. .................................................................................... 23 Chapter 4—OBSERVATION FORM ENTRIES 24 4.1. Introduction. ....................................................................................................... 24 4.2. ADS Procedures. ................................................................................................ 24 4.3. Non-ADS Procedures. ........................................................................................ 24 Figure 4.1. Example AF 3803 Synoptic and Summary of the Day Entries ............................. 26 4.4. Corrections. ........................................................................................................ 29 4.5. Transfer and Disposition of Observation Records. ............................................... 31 Chapter 5—WIND 32 5.1. Introduction. ....................................................................................................... 32 5.2. Definitions. ......................................................................................................... 32 5.3. Wind Algorithms for AMOSs. ............................................................................ 32 5.4. Determining Standards. ...................................................................................... 32 Table 5.1. Summary of Wind Observing Standards. ............................................................ 33 5.5. Manual Observing Methods. ............................................................................... 33 Table 5.2. Beaufort Scale of Winds ..................................................................................... 34 Table 5.3. Conversion of Miles Per Hour to Knots .............................................................. 35 Table 5.4. Conversion of Knots to Miles Per Hour .............................................................. 35 Chapter 6—VISIBILITY 36 6.1. Introduction. ....................................................................................................... 36 6.2. Definitions. ......................................................................................................... 36 6.3. Visibility Algorithms for AMOS. ........................................................................ 36 6.4. Determining Standards. ...................................................................................... 36 Table 6.1. Reportable Visibility Values ............................................................................... 37 6.5. Manual Observing Methods. ............................................................................... 37 Table 6.2. Example for Determining Prevailing Visibility ................................................... 38 4 AFMAN15-111 27 FEBRUARY 2013 Chapter 7—RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE 39 7.1. Introduction. ....................................................................................................... 39 7.2. Definitions. ......................................................................................................... 39 7.3. RVR Algorithms for AMOS. .............................................................................. 39 7.4. Determining Standards. .....................................................................................