User Input to the Aviation Weather Technology Transfer (AWTT) Board

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

The FAA will hold an informal public meeting to seek aviation weather user input. Details: June 11, 2003; Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Conference Room 8A. The objective of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for interested aviation weather users to provide input on FAA's plans for implementing new weather products.

DATES:

The meeting will be held in Conference Room 8A at the Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence, Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591. Times: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on June 11, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Debi Bacon, Aerospace Weather Policy Division, ARS-100, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone number (202) 385-7705; Fax: (202) 385-7701; e-mail: debi.bacon@faa.gov. Internet address http://www.debi.bacon@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

In 1999, the FAA established an Aviation Weather Technology Transfer (AWTT) Board to manage the orderly transfer of weather capabilities and products from research and development into operations. The Director of the Aerospace Weather Policy and Standards Staff, ARS-20, chairs the AWTT Board. The board is composed of stakeholders in Air Traffic Services, ATS: Regulation and Certification, AVR; and Research and Acquisitions, ARA in the Federal Aviation Administration and the Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services, OS and the Office of Science and Technology, OST in the National Weather Service.

The AWTT Board meets semi-annually or as needed, to determine the readiness of weather research and development (R&D) products for experimental use, full operational use for meteorologists or full operational use for end users. The board's determinations will be based upon criteria in the following areas: users needs; benefits; costs; risks; technical readiness; operational readiness and budget requirements.

The user interface process is designed to allow FAA to both report progress and receive feedback from industry users. Each AWTT board meeting will be preceded by a half-day industry review session approximately one month prior to each board meeting. These industry review sessions will be announced in the Federal Register and open to all interested parties.

This meeting is the industry review session intended to receive feedback on a weather R&D product that will be presented for consideration at the July 2003 AWTT Board meeting. The products to be considered are the Forecast Inflight Icing Potential (FIP) and the Graphic Area Forecast (GFA).

Meeting Procedures

(a) The meeting will be informal in nature and will be conducted by representatives of the FAA Headquarters.

(b) The meeting will be open to all persons on a space-available basis. Every effort was made to provided a meeting site with sufficient seating capacity for the expected participation. There will be neither admission fee nor other charge to attend and participate. Any person attending must present picture identification to the building security guards for admission. Person with government-issued identification cards will be directed to conference room 8A. Persons without government-issued identification cards will be admitted but must be escorted by FAA personnel while within the building.

(c) FAA headquarters personnel will conduct an overview briefing on how the AWTT system works and changes to the process made in the last year. Any person will be allowed to ask questions during the presentation and FAA personnsel will clarify any part of the process that is not clear.

(d) FAA personnel, will present a briefing on the specific products to be review at the July 2003 AWTT Board Meeting. Any person will be allowed to ask questions during the presentation and FAA personnel will clarify any part of the presentation that is not clear.

(e) Any person present may give feedback on the products to be presented. Feedback on the proposed products will be captured through discussion between FAA personnel and any persons attending the meeting. The meeting will not be formally recorded. However, informal tape recordings may be made of the presentations to ensure that each respondent's comments are noted accurately.

(f) An official verbatim transcript of minutes of the informal meeting will not be made. However, a list of the attendees, a digest of discussions during the meeting and an action item list will be produced. Any person attending may receive a copy of the written information upon request to the information contact, above.

(g) Every reasonable effort will be made to hear each person's feedback consistent with a reasonable closing time for the meeting. Written feedback may also be submitted to FAA personnel for up to seven (7) days after the close of the meeting.

Agenda

(a) Opening Remarks and Discussion of Meeting Procedures

(b) Briefing on AWTT Process

(c) Briefing on Weather Products

(d) Request for User Input

(e) Closing Comments