Post by TCU 2U2 on Aug 31, 2016 9:55:34 GMT -5
Here are some questions sent to headquarters based on August 22, 2016 FAA - ALDARS memo.
This is the first of several groups of questions sent.
1) If ALDARS starts a thunderstorm, but there is no thunderstorm activity or precipitation within hundreds of miles of the CWO, based on line of sight and radar reports (prior experience), should the TS still be carried in the observation?
YES, then send a copy of the METAR to AJT-21 for investigation.
2) Is it correct to allow ALDARS to report a TS when there are clear skies at the airport? (this question also is based on prior experience)
YES then send a copy of the METAR to AJT-21 for investigation.
3) Can ALDARS now add additional lightning remarks for OCNL, FRQ, or CONS, and if not, can the observer augment this information?
NO, ALDARS does not report OCNL, FRQ or CONS, see FAA JO 7900.5C Table 3-2 and paragraph 14.29. The memo states the observer can add lightning if physically observed, but the observer must not edit or remove ALDARS Remarks.
4) Can VCTS be changed to TS if the observer can hear thunder?
YES.
5) Are LTG and TS remarks still required according to criteria of the existing Service Levels?
Yes. If lightning is physically observed by the observer, and the observer determines that ALDARS-generated remarks do not fully describe the lightning, the observer must add additional remarks in accordance with 7900.5C paragraph 14.29. The observer may not edit or remove ALDARS-generated Remarks.
6) Should the CWO treat ALDARS the same as visibility? (That is, do not turn off the report processing, but edit the data when needed)
Per the guidance in the memo, do not turn Off report processing. The observer must not edit or remove ALDARS-generated Remarks. The observer must add additional remarks in accordance with 7900.5C paragraph 14.29, if observer physically observes lightning not fully described by ALDARS-generated remarks.
7) To whom should the CWO forward any and all complaints received from the tower, the media, airlines, airport personnel, the National Weather Service, the public, etc., when ALDARS is reporting incorrect data?
CWOs are not responsible for forwarding this information to the FAA. CWOs may forward pertinent information to AJT-21 at their discretion, but FAA Stakeholders have their own lines of communications with the FAA.
8) When Vaisala makes the claim: "NLDN® Network Specifications Cloud-to-Ground flash detection efficiency greater than 95%, Cloud-to-Cloud flash detection efficiency of 50-60%," www.vaisala.co m/en/products/thunderstormandl ightningdetectionsystems/Pages /default.aspx; do you know how Vaisala defines efficiency with respect to accuracy in aviation weather reporting?
No, we do not know how the efficiency is defined. ALDARS was tested and approved by NWS and FAA.
9) What are the studies the NWS cites, that serves as the basis for determining the new FAA policy on ALDARS CWO reporting, and where can they be obtained?
NWS and FAA tested ALDARS together. FAA agreed to deploy ALDARS. It’s not just for CWO reporting; it affect all sites in the NAS that have an ASOS.
10) The 7900.5C (below) allows the CWO to turn off the report processing for non-representative data, are these instructions superseded by your memo, and if so will there be an addendum to the 7900.5C?:
YES, the 7900.5 will be revised so that report processing for all sensors is never turned off by observers unless directed by NWS technicians. It will not make it into the 7900.5D, but will be incorporated shortly thereafter via Change NOTICE.
11) In the Memorandum dated 9/24/2013, it states: Thunderstorm reporting is produced via backup if ALDARS should become inoperative, or is unrepresentative and yet in the new memo (8/22/2016) it states: “Observers do not have the ability to determine the validity of lightning data. Therefore it has been determined that report processing should not be turned off unless directed to by NWS or FAA.” Therefore, one is contradictory to the other. The FAA needs to clarify this and whether the 2nd supersedes the 1st.
Report Processing should not be turned OFF unless the observer is directed to. The guidance in the second memo clarifies the first memo.
12) Combining multiple lightning reports (ours and ALDARS) along with the TS reports seems in violation of the 7900 which states how LTG and TS should be coded and nowhere allows for the combining of ALDARS and manual remarks. The spirit the 7900 also seems to be violated...i.e.: accurate and clear information.
The FAA may, at its discretion, issue updated policy or guidance via Memo. FAA Standard Operating Procedure is to incorporate such updated policy or guidance into applicable orders within a reasonable timeframe. FAA Air Traffic, Technical Operations and National Weather Service Headquarters have all concurred with the clarification of ALDARS reporting Policy. AJT-21, as the Office of Primary Responsibility for FAA JO 7900.5, will revise the 7900.5 to alleviate any ambiguity or misinterpretation by weather observers.
13) Finally, if this supersedes the 7900, can this be done by the FAA thru just a memo?
The FAA may, at its discretion, issue updated policy or guidance via Memo. FAA Standard Operating Procedure is to incorporate such updated policy or guidance into applicable orders within a reasonable timeframe. FAA Air Traffic, Technical Operations and National Weather Service Headquarters have all concurred with the clarification of ALDARS reporting Policy. AJT-21, as the Office of Primary Responsibility for FAA JO 7900.5, will revise the 7900.5 to alleviate any ambiguity or misinterpretation by weather observers.
This is the first of several groups of questions sent.
1) If ALDARS starts a thunderstorm, but there is no thunderstorm activity or precipitation within hundreds of miles of the CWO, based on line of sight and radar reports (prior experience), should the TS still be carried in the observation?
YES, then send a copy of the METAR to AJT-21 for investigation.
2) Is it correct to allow ALDARS to report a TS when there are clear skies at the airport? (this question also is based on prior experience)
YES then send a copy of the METAR to AJT-21 for investigation.
3) Can ALDARS now add additional lightning remarks for OCNL, FRQ, or CONS, and if not, can the observer augment this information?
NO, ALDARS does not report OCNL, FRQ or CONS, see FAA JO 7900.5C Table 3-2 and paragraph 14.29. The memo states the observer can add lightning if physically observed, but the observer must not edit or remove ALDARS Remarks.
4) Can VCTS be changed to TS if the observer can hear thunder?
YES.
5) Are LTG and TS remarks still required according to criteria of the existing Service Levels?
Yes. If lightning is physically observed by the observer, and the observer determines that ALDARS-generated remarks do not fully describe the lightning, the observer must add additional remarks in accordance with 7900.5C paragraph 14.29. The observer may not edit or remove ALDARS-generated Remarks.
6) Should the CWO treat ALDARS the same as visibility? (That is, do not turn off the report processing, but edit the data when needed)
Per the guidance in the memo, do not turn Off report processing. The observer must not edit or remove ALDARS-generated Remarks. The observer must add additional remarks in accordance with 7900.5C paragraph 14.29, if observer physically observes lightning not fully described by ALDARS-generated remarks.
7) To whom should the CWO forward any and all complaints received from the tower, the media, airlines, airport personnel, the National Weather Service, the public, etc., when ALDARS is reporting incorrect data?
CWOs are not responsible for forwarding this information to the FAA. CWOs may forward pertinent information to AJT-21 at their discretion, but FAA Stakeholders have their own lines of communications with the FAA.
8) When Vaisala makes the claim: "NLDN® Network Specifications Cloud-to-Ground flash detection efficiency greater than 95%, Cloud-to-Cloud flash detection efficiency of 50-60%," www.vaisala.co m/en/products/thunderstormandl ightningdetectionsystems/Pages /default.aspx; do you know how Vaisala defines efficiency with respect to accuracy in aviation weather reporting?
No, we do not know how the efficiency is defined. ALDARS was tested and approved by NWS and FAA.
9) What are the studies the NWS cites, that serves as the basis for determining the new FAA policy on ALDARS CWO reporting, and where can they be obtained?
NWS and FAA tested ALDARS together. FAA agreed to deploy ALDARS. It’s not just for CWO reporting; it affect all sites in the NAS that have an ASOS.
10) The 7900.5C (below) allows the CWO to turn off the report processing for non-representative data, are these instructions superseded by your memo, and if so will there be an addendum to the 7900.5C?:
YES, the 7900.5 will be revised so that report processing for all sensors is never turned off by observers unless directed by NWS technicians. It will not make it into the 7900.5D, but will be incorporated shortly thereafter via Change NOTICE.
11) In the Memorandum dated 9/24/2013, it states: Thunderstorm reporting is produced via backup if ALDARS should become inoperative, or is unrepresentative and yet in the new memo (8/22/2016) it states: “Observers do not have the ability to determine the validity of lightning data. Therefore it has been determined that report processing should not be turned off unless directed to by NWS or FAA.” Therefore, one is contradictory to the other. The FAA needs to clarify this and whether the 2nd supersedes the 1st.
Report Processing should not be turned OFF unless the observer is directed to. The guidance in the second memo clarifies the first memo.
12) Combining multiple lightning reports (ours and ALDARS) along with the TS reports seems in violation of the 7900 which states how LTG and TS should be coded and nowhere allows for the combining of ALDARS and manual remarks. The spirit the 7900 also seems to be violated...i.e.: accurate and clear information.
The FAA may, at its discretion, issue updated policy or guidance via Memo. FAA Standard Operating Procedure is to incorporate such updated policy or guidance into applicable orders within a reasonable timeframe. FAA Air Traffic, Technical Operations and National Weather Service Headquarters have all concurred with the clarification of ALDARS reporting Policy. AJT-21, as the Office of Primary Responsibility for FAA JO 7900.5, will revise the 7900.5 to alleviate any ambiguity or misinterpretation by weather observers.
13) Finally, if this supersedes the 7900, can this be done by the FAA thru just a memo?
The FAA may, at its discretion, issue updated policy or guidance via Memo. FAA Standard Operating Procedure is to incorporate such updated policy or guidance into applicable orders within a reasonable timeframe. FAA Air Traffic, Technical Operations and National Weather Service Headquarters have all concurred with the clarification of ALDARS reporting Policy. AJT-21, as the Office of Primary Responsibility for FAA JO 7900.5, will revise the 7900.5 to alleviate any ambiguity or misinterpretation by weather observers.
