NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD NEWS
RELEASE
NTSB RECOMMENDS FAA, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IMPROVE WEATHER FORECAST TO PILOTS
May 6, 2014
WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) today issued nine recommendations addressing the need to provide
more comprehensive preflight weather information to pilots. The recommendations
were issued to both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National
Weather Service (NWS), who are jointly responsible for providing such
information to pilots. Timely, detailed weather information is critical for
enabling airmen to properly balance risks and make sound decisions when
determining to fly.
The recommendations are based on NTSB accident
investigations involving aircraft encountering weather conditions, such as
adverse surface wind, dense fog, icing, turbulence, and low-level wind shear.
Currently, although information on these conditions may exist, it is not always
provided to pilots through NWS products during preflight weather forecasts.
“What’s difficult to understand is why weather
advisories from the National Weather Service to the general public, at times,
provide more comprehensive information about weather conditions than the
advisories they provide to pilots experiencing the same conditions,” said NTSB
Board Member Earl Weener. “Why pilots would receive less information makes no
sense, and increases the risk of flying in severe weather conditions. That is
why this issue is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List.”
Additionally, although the NWS routinely
advises pilots of turbulence and weather patterns associated with mountain wave
activity (MWA), which can cause unique and adverse flying conditions, there are
currently no requirements for the NWS to issue advisories specific to MWA. The
NTSB believes notification of the potential for and the existence of MWA allows
pilots to prepare for these atmospheric disturbances.
The NTSB also identified the need for improved
situation awareness and communication between the center weather service units
(CWSUs) and the Aviation Weather Centers. Appreciating the challenges involved
in issuing critical weather advisories in a timely manner, the NTSB recognizes
the importance of proper coordination and communication between the various NWS
components. Therefore, the NTSB is also recommending a protocol be established
to enhance communication among meteorologists to ensure mutual situation
awareness of critical aviation weather data among meteorologists.
“Safety will be enhanced for airmen and their
passengers when pilots are given a complete weather report including all of the
most current weather information,” Weener said.
To view the NTSB’s recommendations to the FAA
and the NWS, click on the following links:
Source: Message
received as a free service from the National Transportation Safety Board.
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