AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System)
Monitored by USAF Weather Reporting Stations, continually sense and measure the atmosphere at the station. Automated systems then collect, encode, and disseminate official observations (METAR).
Airfield Automation System (AFAS)
What does AFAS stand for?
Wind indicator
AFAS will include a real time ______ _________
METAR, PIREPs, and hazardous weather advisories
What information must be available at all control positions?
visual and aural
Each AFAS must be equipped with a ______ and _____ alarm system suited to operation needs.
Checklist, recall rosters and phone numbers
Each facility has the ability to maintain their own information on the AFAS, provide examples of this information:
home page
All AFAS pages must link the ____ ____ for instant access to current weather/ airfield information
DBRITE (Digital Bright Radar Indicator Tower Equipment), and TDW (Tower Display Workstation).
What are the two certified tower radar displays used by the Air Force?
As an aid to assist controllers in visually locating aircraft or in determining their spatial relationship to known geographical points
Radar displays must be certified for use by maintenance personnel. If uncertified, what may the displays be used for only?
Determine aircraft ID, location, or relationship to other aircraftprovide aircraft with radar traffic advisoriesprovide direction or suggested headings to VFR aircraftprovide information and instructions to aircraft
What may local controllers used CTRDS for?
The report of tower visibility different from the prevailing surface visibilityLocal PIREPsAny occurrence of previously unreported weather conditions that could affect flight safety or be critical to the safety or efficiency of other local operations and resources
What is the primary concerns of the cooperative weather watch program?
Limited Weather Observation Certification
What certification will tower controllers obtain from weather personnel?
prevailing visibility values and other weather phenomenon from the control tower
What will tower controllers evaluate from the tower in regards to weather?
When observed tower prevailing visibility decreases to less than 4 miles, increases to 4 miles or more, or is different from the surface prevailing visibility.
Tower personnel certified to take limited visibility observations shall notify weather when?
Stratiform
This cloud formation is when an entire layer of stable air is lifted with a layered appearance
Cirriform
These cloud formations are thin high level clouds with upper limits as high as 60,000 ft and are composed of ice crystals
Cumulus (CU)
__________ does not show extensive towers or vertical development, unstable air, light turbulence, and no significant icing
Stratus (ST)
Low, stable air, low ceilings, restricted visibility, and drizzle. May cause hazardous icing when flying below freezing temperatures for extended times.
Cumulonimbus (CB)
Large dense towering cloud whose top is a cirrus cloud flattened into an anvil shape. Thunderstorms are synonymous and can spawn hail, icing, and tornados.
Cirrus (CI)
High, thin clouds in patches or narrow bands and may be a sign of approaching bad weather; often extend from the upper part of a thunderstorm.
Towering Cumulus (TCU)
Unstable, considerable vertical development, usually accompanied by turbulence and icing. Showers can result.
AIRMET, SIGMET, and, CONVECTIVE SIGMENT
What are the three types of hazardous weather information?
AIRMET
Weather advisory concerning weather phenomena such as MODERATE icing, MODERATE turbulence, sustained wind of 30 KTS or more, widespread ceilings less than 1000 ft, and visibility less than 3 SM which are of operational interest to all aircraft and potentially hazardous to aircraft having limited capability because of lack of equipment, instrumentation, or pilot qualifications.
SIGMET
Weather advisory issued concerning weather SIGNIFICANT to the safety of all aircraft. Cover SEVERE and EXTREME turbulence, SEVERE icing, and widespread dust or sandstorms that reduce visibility to less than 3 SM.
CONVECTIVE SIGMET
Weather advisory concerning CONVECTIVE weather significant to the safety of all aircraft. Issued for TORNADOS, lines of THUNDERSTORMS, embedded thunderstorms of any intensity level, and HAIL 3/4 inches or greater.
Turbulence
Caused by abrupt, small-scale variations in wind speed and direction
Decrease speed or climb above it
When a pilot encounters turbulence, what will they request?
Light, Moderate, Severe, Extreme
List the reporting intensities for turbulence
LLWS (Low Level Windshear)
A change in wind speed and/or wind direction in a short distance resulting in a tearing or shearing effect.
Microburst
Short lived, powerful downdraft associated with convective activity. It is the most hazardous form of windshear.
10-20 minutes
When do microbursts typically dissipate?
Causes airspeed changed greater than 15 knots or vertical speed changes greater than 500 ft per minute. The sudden change in wind velocity can lead to a loss of lift resulting in loss of altitude.
How does windshear effect aircraft?
Clear, Rime, Mixed
What are the three types of icing?
Trace, Light, Moderate, Severe
What are the intensities to report icing?
Fog
Surface-based cloud composed of either water droplets or ice crystals.
Snow, blowing snow, drizzle, and rain
What are the most common forms of precipitation?
Thunderstorms
Which weather effect contains the most severe weather hazards to flight?
Moisture, unstable air, and some type of lifting action
What are the basic requirements for a thunderstorm?
Cumulus stageMature stagedissipating stage
List the stages of a thunderstorm.
Mature
In which thunderstorm stage do up and downdrafts coexist and rain begins?
Updraft/downdraft (mature)
Which stage of the thunderstorm does hail exist in?
Lightning strikes
Which weather effect is the leading cause of reportable weather related aircraft accidents in the Air Force?
Precipitation
Any or all forms of water particles (rain, sleet, hail, snow) that fall from the atmosphere and reach the surface.
Surface Visibility
The prevailing visibility determined from the usual point of observation. Normally represents a value observed at 6 ft.
Tower Visibility
prevailing visibility determined from the tower
Sector Visibility
the visibility in a specified direction that represents at least a 45 degree portion of the horizon circle
Visibility Checkpoint Chart
What tool is used to determine the visibility on specified directions?
Direction and Distance from the point of observation
What will each marker include on the visibility check point chart?
fractions, whole numbers, or whole number and fractions
Reportable value of tower visibility less than 3 miles will be reported as:
whole numbers rounded to the nearest whole mile (up or down)
Reportable value of tower visibility of 3-15 miles will be reported as:
reported to the nearest 5 mile increment
Reportable value of tower visibility more than 15 miles will be reported as:
Prevent collisions between aircraft operating in the ATC system.
What is the primary purpose of the ATC system?
A safe and expeditious flow of air trafficSupports national security and homeland defense missions
In addition to ATC's primary purpose, the ATC systems also provide what?
When the work situation permits
When are additional services REQUIRED and NOT optional?
Separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts
What is a controller's duty priority?
If you are aware that the aircraft is in a position/altitude which, in your judgement, places it in unsafe proximity to terrain, obstructions, or other aircraft
When must a safety alert be issued
Terrain/obstruction alert, and Aircraft conflict Alert/Mode C Alert
What are the two safety alerts?
Terrain and Obstruction Alert
A safety alert issued by ATC to aircraft under their control if ATC is aware the aircraft is at an altitude which in the controller's judgement places the aircraft in unsafe proximity to terrain/obstructions
Aircraft Conflict Alert/ Mode-C Alert
Issued by ATC to aircraft under their control if ATC is aware that an aircraft that is not under their control at an altitude which, in the controller's judgement, places both aircraft in unsafe proximity to eachother.
LOW ALTITUDE ALERT, 'AC ID', CHECK YOUR ALTITUDE IMMEDIATELY.
Terrain and Obstruction Alert Phraseology
TRAFFIC ALERT (call sign) (position of AC) ADVISE YOU TURN LEFT/RIGHT (heading), or CLIMB/DECENT (specific altitude if appropriate) IMMEDIATELY".
Aircraft Conflict Alert/Mode-C Alert Phraseology
With the word "immediately
When an alternate course of action is given, how would a controller end the transmission?
Once the pilot informs you that action is being taken to resolve the situation.
When may the controller discontinue the issuance of further alerts?
First-come, First-serve
How does a controller apply their Operation Priority
Distress
Which aircraft has Operational Priority over all other traffic?
Priority
What type of handling will MEDEVAC aircraft receive?
When Verbally Requested
When will AIREVAC or HOSP aircraft receive priority handling?
priority with maximum assistance
Interceptor aircraft on active air defense missions will receive _______ with _______ ________ until the unknown aircraft is identified.
Distress, MEDEVAC, Presidential, SAR, Interceptor, Flight Check
List the order of precedence for the following: Presidential, Flight Check, SAR, MEDEVAC, Interceptor, Distress
OG/CC, AOI
______ will direct local aircraft priorities and document in the _______
CCTLR
______ will ensure local aircraft priorities do not take precedence over priorities listed in the FAA JO 7110.65