https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19880015721 2020-03-20T07:07:10+00:00Z NASA Conference Publication 2498 c Meteorological and Environmental Inputs to Aviation Systems Proceedings of a workshop held at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, Tennessee March 12-14, 1985 NASA Conference Publication 2498 Meteorological and Environmental Inputs to Aviation Systems . Edited by Dennis W. Camp and Walter Frost University of Tennessee Space Institute Tullahoma, Tennessee Proceedings of a workshop jointly sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, .National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce), Federal Aviation Administration (Department of Transportation), Department of Defense, and Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, and held at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, Tennessee March 12-14, 1985 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Division PREFACE The first in a series of annual workshops addressing meteorological inputs to aviation systems was held on March 17-19, 1977, at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The workshops were initially sponsored by NASA, NOAA and the FAA, and were later joined in sponsorship by DOD and the Office of the Federal Coordinator. They have provided a forum for open discussion of weather and environmental concerns between the research, operations and user organizations within the aviation community. Following the past few workshops, several individuals have voiced concern over the benefit of what has become a continuing workshop with in many instances the same continuing recommendations. To assess the value of a continuing workshop one must look beyond a simple comparison of recommendations made year to year. Although problems appear very rapidly, such as those resulting from an accident, solutions usually span many years and involve time-consuming activities such as funding cycles, studies, experiments, and cooperation from multiple organizations. The values I would give high marks to are in programmatic guidance and communication. Over the history of this workshop I have seen programs within my own organiza- tion NASA initiated and/or guided from information gained here at Tullahoma. The task of communicating is difficult when people are on the same side of an issue; it is almost impossible when requirements of operators, researchers, and users are debated before the Congress or the public in a competitive environment. The continuing Workshops on Meteorological and Environmental Inputs To Avi- ation Systems provide a needed non-competitive atmosphere for open discussion of aviation problems and a critique of ongoing activities from a diversified, but involved audience. Joseph W. Stickle Chief, Low-Speed Aerodynamics Division TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................... 1 11. INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME .............17 111. OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS ................23 AUTOMATION OF SURFACE OBSERVATIONS PROGRAM Steve E. Short ..........................?25 BRACKNELL METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE Colin R. Flood ..........................41 SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS Donald Beran ..........................53 APPLICATIONS PRODUCTS OF AVIATION FORECAST lMODELS John P. Garthner ........................67 GENERAL-AVIATION'S VIEW OF PROGRESS 15 THE AVIATION WEATHER SYSTEM Douglas J. Lundgren .......................79 PANEL DISCUSSION FOLLOWING OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS . 87 IV. BANQUET PRESENTATION Dub Yarbrough .........................97 V. IMPROMPTU PRESENTATIONS ............. 101 AIRCRAFTILIDAR TURBULENCE COMPARISON Kao-Huah Huang ....................... 103 LIGHTNING DETECTION AND LOCATING SYSTEMS Russell L. Hovey ........................115 NATIONAL PLAIL'S FOR AIRCRAFT ICING AND IMPROVED AIRCRAFT ICING FORECASTS AND ASSOCIATED WARNING SERVICES Ralph P. Pass ......................... 121 OBJECTIVE DETECTION AND FORECASTING OF CAT: A STATUS REPORT John L. Keller ......................... COMPARATIVE VERIFICATION BETWEEN GEM AND OFFICIAL AVIATION TERMINAL FORECASTS Robert G. Miller ....................... COMPUTER AND MODEL CHANGES AT NIMC Charles H. Sprinkle ....................... DENVER ARTCC EVALUATION OF PROFS MESOSCALE WEATHER PRODUCTS John W. Hinkelman ..................... THE FAA/M.~.T.LIN 1 COLN LABORATORY DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR PROGRA-M James E. Evans ..................... VI. COMMITTEE SUMMARY REPORTS ........... SUhIhL4RY REPORT: OBSERVIXG WEATHER Chairman: Alexander E. %lacDonald ............... SUMhlXRY REPORT: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Chairman: Col. John \V. Oliver ................. SUMMARY REPORT: SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS Chairman: Gerald F. O'Brien .................. SUMMARY REPORT: AVIATION FORECAST MODELS Chairman: Raymond J. Stralka ................. SUMMARY REPORT: USING THE SYSTEM Chairman: John R. Gallimore .................. SUMMARY REPORT: PASSENGER AIRLINES Chairman: Russell Crawford ................. SUMMARY REPORT: CARGO AIRLINES Chairman: William H . Pickron ................. 195 SUMMARY REPORT: CORPORATE AVIATION Chairman: Richard J . Van Gemert ................ L98 SUMMARY REPORT: GENERAL AVIATION Chairman: Elaine McCoy .................... 202 SUMMARY REPORT: MILITARY ,4VIATION Chairman: Lt . Col . James L. Crook ............... 205 VII . CONCLUDING REMARKS ................. 211 APPENDICES .......................... 21.3 APPENDIX A: LIST OF ACRONYMS ............. 217 APPENDIX B: ROSTER OF WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS .... 225 COMMITTEES SECTION I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction There have been seven workshops concerned with meteorological and environ- mental inputs to aviation systems. The first one was held in March 1977 and the last in March 1985. These workshops have served a twofold purpose for the gov- ernment sponsors (NASA, FAA, NOAA, DOD, and OFCM). Their first purpose was to bring together the various disciplines of the aviation community with atmo- spheric scientists and meteorologists in interactive discussions concerning needs of the community and how to satisfy these needs. Their second purpose was to use the established and identified needs to develop recommendations that serve as a basis for structuring relevant programs of the sponsoring agencies. An indication of how well the purpose of these workshops has been achieved is given in the various reports, papers, and presentations that have been made on the workshops (Camp and Frost, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985a, 1985b; Camp, et al. 1980a, 1980b, 1981; Frost and Camp, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, Frost, et al. 1979a, 1979b; and Miller, 1987; [I-161. Due to the coverage of the previous workshops, this article will be concerned only with the results (recommendations) of the seventh workshop. Workshop Structure and Operation The basic objective of all the workshops has been and is to satisfy the needs of the sponsoring agencies relative to such factors as 1) Knowledge of the inter- action of the atmosphere with aircraft and airport operations, 2) Better definition and implenlentation of meteorological services for the operators. and 3) The col- lection and interpretation of data for establishing operational criteria relating the total meteorological inputs from the atmospheric sciences to the operational and educational needs of the aviation community. The specific theme of each workshop gives an insight into its particular fo- cus. "Aviation Weather/Observing, Distributing, and Using the Products" was the theme for the Eighth Annual Workshop on Meteorological and Environmental Inputs to Aviation Systems. This workshop theme, coupled with the focusing of the interactive committees, according to the committee titles (Table I), tended to direct the workshop in the desired area of effort. These interactive committee ses- sions are considered to be a major element contributing to the success of the annual workshops. The type of information desired from the interactive committee sessions was what was the effect of the particular subject area (Fixed Committee Title) on the operation of the various segments (Floating Committee Title) of the aviation community? Each of the committees was asked to focus its discussion according to the committee guidelines given in Table 2. The workshop began with a series of five overview papers (Table 3). Papers on previous workshop accomplishments, interactive weather displays, and impromptu tasks were also given. These also helped to set the tempo in the vein of the workshop theme, as did the banquet and dinner presentations. The structure (program) of this workshop was very similar to previous work- shops. It began with the overview presentations, followed in order by interactive committee sessions, banquet, impromptu presentations, more interactive committee sessions, dinner presentation, more interactive committee sessions, and a conclusion with a plenary session consisting of the committee chairmen presenting the results and recommendat ions of their committees. Comments and Recommendations At this workshop, the committee chairmen were requested to use a special procedure (form) for reporting their comments and recommendations. Specifically, they were asked to give the results of their efforts in the following order: 1) state as concisely as possible the issue, 2) briefly summarize the discussion of the issue, 3) state recommended action, 4) indicate who should be responsible for accomplishing any required effort, and 5) specify the priority of issues discussed. TABLE 1. INTERACTIVE COMMITTEE TITLES FOR THE EIGHTH