Aviation Professional Development Series
PCU 3: Provide Aviation Weather Information and Services - DRAFT
Description of Job Duty Competency to be Achieved:
Forecasters produce timely, accurate and consistent (spatially and temporally) forecasts. These forecasts must maintain meteorological integrity across boundaries of the area of responsibility. Forecasts of meteorological parameters and phenomena are prepared using production tools (i.e., AvnFPS, IC4D, WARP, N-AWIPS, etc.) and issued in accordance with documented requirements (such as various NWS Directives and ICAO ANNEX 3), priorities and deadlines.
Description of Need:
The Aviation community is often exposed to rapidly changing weather conditions that impact safety and efficiency. Aviation warnings, watches, advisories, information and services must be effectual for aviation user decision making. This must include the weather conditions temporal and spatial extent, onset /cessation, duration and intensity.- Ability to produce NWS Weather Forecast Office aviation products.
- Ability 1. Create and disseminate text products including TAF, AWW, etc.
- Skill 1.1. Use operational systems (e.g. AWIPS, AVNFPS)
- Office - SOP, On the Job Training - Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- 1.1.2 AWIPS Jobsheets
- Skill 1.2. Produce effective TAF
- OCCWS - Determining Categorical Amendment Criteria
- OCCWS - Introduction to Categorical Amendment Criteria
- NWSTC - Introduction to TAF Verification
- Office - On the Job Training - SOP, Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
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- WDTB CWSU-ATC Training Library: Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) (convert to Articulate?) (Expected Release May 2013; Requires NOAA LDAP login/password) (70 min)
- Skill 1.3. Produce effective AWW
- IC 1.3.1 DIRECTIVE - Refer to NWSI 10-801 for product information/training
- Office - SOP, On the Job Training - Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Skill 1.4. Knowledge of NWS Directives
- NWSI 10-801 Airport Weather Warnings
- NWSI 10-813 Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)
- Ability 2. Create and disseminate Aviation Forecast Discussion
- Skill 2.1. Produce effective AFD
- Office - On the Job Training - SOP, Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Skill 2.2. Write an effective Aviation Forecast Discussion (AFD)
- Office - On the Job Training - SOP, Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Ability to produce CWSU products.
- Ability 3. Create and disseminate text products including MIS, CWA, etc.
- Skill 3.1. Interpret NWP data, Monitor and interpret surface based and remote sensing observations.
- Office - On the Job Training - SOP, Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- COMET - NWP modules
- OFCM - FMH #1 Surface Observations
- Skill 3.2. WDTB CWSU-ATC
- Skill 3.3. Use of WARP, AISR, ARD, Google CWA and other tools as they are developed and fielded
- Office - On the Job Training - SOP, Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Office - Formal documentation/instruction on the use of WARP, AISR, ARD, Google CWA and other tools
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- Ability 4. Entering urgent PIREPS into NWS & FAA comms system
- Skill 4.1. Translate PIREP information in coded format
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- Pilot Weather Report (PIREP) (requires NOAA LDAP login/password) (to be released OCT 2012) (60 min)
- Ability 5. Create and disseminate aviation weather graphic products including TDAs, significant weather, etc.
- Skill 5.1. Knowledge of the tools necessary to create graphical aviation products.
- Skill 5.2. Ensure the graphical products are consistent in both space and time with the text products
- Practice Quality Control Procedures
- Office - SOP, On the Job Training - Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Skill 5.3. See PCU 1 & 2
- Ability 6. Prepare for Stand Up Weather Briefings
- Skill 6.1. See Skill 3.3 and PCUs 1 and 4
- Ability to produce Meteorological Watch Office products.
- Ability 7. Create and disseminate text products including AIRMET, SIGMET, etc.
- Skill 7.1. IC4D, N-AWIPS, AWIPS-II, NMAP, etc.
- Office - Documentation/instructional material (SOPs) on IC4D, N-AWIPS, AWIPS II and NMAP
- Skill 7.2. Knowledge of NWS Directives
- Ability 8. Create and disseminate Area Forecasts
- Skill 8.1. Assimilate and process meteorological data for large geographical areas and produce succinct forecasts
- Skill 8.2. Knowledge of NWS Directives
- Ability 9. Create aviation weather graphics
- Skill 9.1. Knowledge of the tools necessary to create graphical aviation products.
- Office - SOP, On the Job Training - Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Skill 9.2. Ensure the graphical products are consistent in both space and time with the text products
- Practice Quality Control Procedures
- Office - SOP, On the Job Training - Shadowing, Proficiency Checklist
- Skill 9.3. NMAP, IC4D, WARP tools
- NMAP tools for creating graphics
- CCFP
- CONUS/OCONUS AIRMETs
- CONUS/OCONUS SIGMETs
- International SIGMETs
- Significant Weather Graphics
- High level global
- Mid level over North Atlantic
- Low level over CONUS/OCONUS
- IC4D generated graphics
- WARP generated graphics
- Web generated graphics
Some CWSUs can generate products through a web interface.
Page last Modified: Thursday, April 11, 2013 2:32 PM





