AVIATION SAFETY FOCUS OF KANSAS CITY CONFERENCE

Aviation weather experts representing government, public and private interests across the United States and Canada are gathering in Kansas City, Missouri, May 13-15, 2003, for a conference to examine ways to improve the efficiency and safety of aviation. The National Aviation Weather Workshop is being held at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service’s (NWS) Aviation Weather Center on Northwest 101st Terrace in Kansas City. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“This is a very important conference for all of us who forecast weather in support of commercial and general aviation,” NWS Aviation Weather Services Branch Chief Mark Andrews said. “Probably more than any other aspect of our national infrastructure, aviation depends on an intricate partnership of government, public and private entities to ensure maximum safety and efficiency of operations. We need to get together occasionally to make sure the changing needs of the aviation community are understood by the day-in, day-out aviation forecaster. With this understanding, new means of conveying weather information to pilots, dispatchers, and air traffic controllers can be developed.“

Andrews said more than 200 participants are expected to delve into topics such as current capabilities in aviation weather forecasting, user requirements, the vision/future of aviation weather and impacts on private and commercial aviation. “We’ll cover many topics from ideas and proposals that are barely off the drawing board to reviews of recently-implemented products and products that have been in use for years,” he said. “Our intention is to ensure National Weather Service aviation forecasters maintain familiarity with the changing needs of the aviation industry and other government partners like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“The National Weather Service and the FAA are focused on improving the quality of weather information to airlines, pilots, dispatchers and controllers. Improving the quality of weather information will improve safety and the economic operation for both commercial and general aviation.”

Following an 8:15 a.m. May 14 presentation on NOAA’s role in forecasting for air transportation, retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, will premiere a new National Aviation Services Award for outstanding contribution to the NOAA aviation weather effort. Lautenbacher will present the 2002 individual and team awards.

Industry and government companies and agencies participating in the conference include: United Parcel Service, Southwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, the Air Transport Association, the Small Aircraft Manufacturers Association, the Allied Pilots Association, the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the Air Force Weather Association, the National Weather Association, the Federal Aviation Administration, NOAA and the Meteorological Service of Canada.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov

NOAA Aviation Weather Center: http://aviationweather.gov