AvnFPS OB8.3 Web Page

Aviation Forecast Preparation System ver. OB8.3
(Last Update: 24 September 2008)

Introduction
Installation Instructions
AvnFPS OB8.3 User's Guide
Release Notes
AvnFPS OB8.3 Lessons Learned
AvnFPS OB8.3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)/AvnFPS OB8.3 AvnFPS Troubleshooting
Guidance on "Turnkey" Transition to new TAF format
Support
AvnFPS list server
Links to Other AvnFPS Builds

Introduction

Welcome to the AvnFPS web page for AWIPS Operational Build 8.3.

AvnFPS is designed to ease monitoring, improve production, and facilitate Quality Control (QC) of Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs). The AvnFPS monitoring capability gives forecasters quick and continuous feedback on TAFs as well as associated observations. This monitoring capability consists of a color coded scheme and is site configurable. The TAFs, surface observations, and guidance are easily accessable either in text or graphical form and can be enhanced to alert forecasters to weather significant to aviation operations.

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Installation Instructions

Installation instructions can be found here (html) or, if you prefer PDF format, here.

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AvnFPS User's Guide

The AvnFPS OB8.3 User's Guide is under active development. Please let us know if you find anything that should be corrected or clarified.

AvnFPS OB8.3 User's Guide (HTML Version)
AvnFPS OB8.3 User's Guide suitable for downloading (HTML Version)
AvnFPS OB8.3 User's Guide (PDF Version)

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Release Notes

The Release Notes contain information about enhancements and problems fixed in this release.

Section I:	New Features in AvnFPS OB8.3	PDF File	Word File
Section II:	Problems Fixed in AvnFPS OB8.3	PDF File	Word File

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New Features

Quick look at the new features in this release. This information is repeated, but with more details, in the Release Notes, Section I.

TAF updated with LAMP guidance in the TAF Viewer/Editor
Code changes to provide seamless support for the upcoming ICAO mandated format change to TAF groups' day and time
AvnFPS Client, aka AvnWatch, alert colors are configurable at user-level
ACARS profile data is used for LLWS calculations when available

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AvnFPS OB8.3 Lessons Learned

State College WFO (CTP) reported that notification actions associated with AvnWatch's alert levels have been disabled after installation of AWIPS OB8.3. The actions affecting the AvnWatch GUI are de-iconification, raise to foreground, and playing sounds.

The solution is for each forecaster to check his/her resource setting for AvnFPS. These settings can be viewed via the Resource Editor. From the AvnWatch GUI, under the 'Options' in the toolbar, select 'Setup'. This will bring up the resource editor. Scroll down and look for the following resources:

*notifyDeiconify

 *notifyRaise

*notifyPlay

If the settings are not to your satisifaction, pressing the 'Reset' button on the left will change the values to baseline ones. Each resource is associated with pulldown menu of alert levels, including 'disabled', and each alert level is associated with a color -- which can be changed. This is a new feature with this release. The ability to change the alert colors allows color-blind individuals to adjust them to better discriminate differences between levels.

Once the notification alerts have been adjusted, press the 'Save' button to preserve the settings for future sessions. The forecaster should then close the Resource Editor dialog and restart AvnWatch for the change to take effect.

In April 2008, very through testing at Raytheon of the transition from the current TAF format to the newer one specified by the ICAO to occur on 0000 UTC 5 November 2008, indicated a few minor issues with AvnFPS OB8.3. DR 20163 was written to address them. With the AvnFPS OB8.3.1 patch installed:

TAF decoder handles both TAF formats regardless of the date given by the system clock.
Using TAF template, either by itself or with the merge feature, when composing a new TAF works correctly with the new format.
AdjustTimes tool no longer assumes TAFs are 24-hrs long
WxPlot GUI no longer assumes TAFs are 24-hrs long

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AvnFPS OB8.3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)/AvnFPS OB8.3 Troubleshooting

Click on the appropriate link below to go to either the AvnFPS FAQs page or to the AvnFPS Troubleshooting page.

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Guidance on "Turnkey" Transition to new TAF format

Beginning with the 0000 UTC 05 November issuance all TAFs created by the National Weather Service will change to a new format. Simultaneously with the format change, 32 TAFs at airports receiving trans-oceanic flights will become 30 hours long instead of the usual 24. We've provided the following document to assist the Aviation Focal Point (AFP) and the aviation forecaster during the transition in TAF format using AvnFPS.

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Support

The NCF, at (301-713-9344), provides 24x7x365 support for the AvnFPS software. For problems or questions regarding installation the NCF should foward your TT immediately to MDL for resolution.

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AvnFPS ListServer

Click on the link below to access the avnfps ListServer. Once there, if you have not already subscribed to the avnfps ListServer, then do not type in any information in the login GUI. Rather, select the "All Forums" tab. Next, click the "subscribe" link associated with the avnfps ListServer. After that, simply follow the instructions for completing the subscription form. Once, your subscription is approved (usually in a matter of minutes), the ListServer system will send you an email message to which you must reply in order to activate your subscription membership.

AvnFPS ListServer

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Links to Other AvnFPS Releases

AvnFPS Release Matrix

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