Tactical Decision Aids In use at Fort Worth CWSU James Ott

Tactical Decision AidsTactical Decision AidsIn use atIn use at

Fort Worth CWSUFort Worth CWSU

James OttJames Ott

Tactical Decision AidsTactical Decision Aids

DefineDefine FTW ARTCCFTW ARTCC

• Description of FTW ARTCCDescription of FTW ARTCC Types of TDAs used at FTW CWSUTypes of TDAs used at FTW CWSU

• TRACON TRACON • ARTCCARTCC

Forecaster producedForecaster produced Automated by PACEAutomated by PACE

Forecast ToolsForecast Tools

Tactical Decision AidsTactical Decision AidsDefinedDefined

Graphical forecast of elements useful Graphical forecast of elements useful to FAA Traffic Management, to FAA Traffic Management, supervisors and dispatcherssupervisors and dispatchers

Timeline formatTimeline format Forecast Elements can be categorical Forecast Elements can be categorical

or probabilisticor probabilistic

Tactical Decision Aids (TDA)Tactical Decision Aids (TDA)

DefineDefine ZFW ARTCCZFW ARTCC

• Description of ZFW airspaceDescription of ZFW airspace Types of TDAs used at FTW CWSUTypes of TDAs used at FTW CWSU


Forecaster producedForecaster produced AutomatedAutomated


Fort Worth ARTCC

Major air traffic corridors/routes:

North-south traffic from IAH-ORD andIAH-DEN as well as others

East-west traffic across the southern US

DFW arrivals/departures

DFW TRACON with Air trafficFTW ARTCC

Arrival Cornerposts

UKW Bowie BYP

Bonham

JEN Glenrose

CQY

Cedar Creek

DFW TRACON with Air traffic

Arrival Arrival

ArrivalArrival

Depart

DepartDepart

Depart

DFW Arrival/DepartureRoutes

110-130

110-130

110-130

110-130

140-170

140-170

140-170 140-170


DefineDefine FTW ARTCCFTW ARTCC

• Description of FTW ARTCCDescription of FTW ARTCC Types of TDAs used at FTW CWSUTypes of TDAs used at FTW CWSU




Types of TDAsTypes of TDAs

DFW TRACON DFW TRACON (in use since late 90’s)(in use since late 90’s)

• Ceilings and visibilitiesCeilings and visibilities• Wind - north or south flow or crosswindWind - north or south flow or crosswind• Precipitation type/coverage Precipitation type/coverage • Timeline forecast through 9 hoursTimeline forecast through 9 hours• Updated every 3-6 hoursUpdated every 3-6 hours

Types of TDAsTypes of TDAs

ARTCC Arrival and departure gate ARTCC Arrival and departure gate sectors (UKW, BYP ,CQY, JEN)sectors (UKW, BYP ,CQY, JEN)• TS coverageTS coverage• Timeline forecast through 6 hoursTimeline forecast through 6 hours• Updated every 3-6 hoursUpdated every 3-6 hours

Elements to TRACON TDAElements to TRACON TDA Ceilings/VisibilitiesCeilings/Visibilities

• VFR >= 3000 ft; > 5 miVFR >= 3000 ft; > 5 mi• MVFR 1000 -3000 ft; 3 – 5 miMVFR 1000 -3000 ft; 3 – 5 mi• IFR 500 – 1000 ft; 1 – 3 miIFR 500 – 1000 ft; 1 – 3 mi• LIFR < 500 ft ; < 1 miLIFR < 500 ft ; < 1 mi

WindsWinds• North flowNorth flow• South flowSouth flow• Crosswinds 20-25 ktsCrosswinds 20-25 kts

PrecipitationPrecipitation• TypeType

TS SH RA SN etc.TS SH RA SN etc.• Probability/CoverageProbability/Coverage

Few – VC - Prob30/40 - TempoFew – VC - Prob30/40 - Tempo

TRACON TDA Forecast ToolsTRACON TDA Forecast Tools

Current METARsCurrent METARs Current TAFCurrent TAF Crosswind calculationsCrosswind calculations

• Via FTW CWSU web siteVia FTW CWSU web site Precipitation forecastPrecipitation forecast

• Various sourcesVarious sources ITWS, PACE, NCWF6, Auto Nowcaster ITWS, PACE, NCWF6, Auto Nowcaster

Ex.30025G40



• Airspace 101 (short version)Airspace 101 (short version) Types of TDAs used at FTW CWSUTypes of TDAs used at FTW CWSU




Elements to Arrival/Departure Gate Elements to Arrival/Departure Gate Sector TDA (Forecaster)Sector TDA (Forecaster)

Precipitation (TS) CoveragePrecipitation (TS) Coverage• Open - < 30%Open - < 30%• Marginal - 30-70%Marginal - 30-70%• Impacted >70%Impacted >70%

For continuous updates go to http://???.???.noaa.gov

Data from PACE



• Description of ZFW airspaceDescription of ZFW airspace Types of TDAs used at FTW CWSUTypes of TDAs used at FTW CWSU


Forecaster producedForecaster produced AutomatedAutomated


Arrival/Departure Gate Sector TDA Arrival/Departure Gate Sector TDA Forecast ToolsForecast Tools

Convective ForecastingConvective Forecasting• NEXRADNEXRAD• Auto Nowcaster – Auto Nowcaster – Thunderstorm initiation tool Thunderstorm initiation tool

• TCWF – TCWF – Terminal Convective Weather Forecast (ITWS)Terminal Convective Weather Forecast (ITWS) 0-1 hour0-1 hour

• PACE - PACE - Prototype Aviation Collaborative EffortPrototype Aviation Collaborative Effort 0-2 hours0-2 hours

• NCWF6 - NCWF6 - National Convective Weather ForecastNational Convective Weather Forecast 0-6 hours0-6 hours

• CCFP – CCFP – Collaborate Convective Forecast ProductCollaborate Convective Forecast Product 0-6 hours0-6 hours

WARP NEXRAD

WARP NEXRAD MosaicWARP NEXRAD Mosaic

AdvantagesAdvantages• Primary display available to ATCPrimary display available to ATC• Displays TS and jet routes/sectorsDisplays TS and jet routes/sectors• AnimationAnimation

DisadvantagesDisadvantages• No calculations or forecast other than CCFPNo calculations or forecast other than CCFP

Closed system-Closed system-• Cannot import products from other sourcesCannot import products from other sources

Auto NowcasterAuto Nowcaster

Displays Convective ThreatDisplays Convective Threat• 1 hour in advance1 hour in advance

User input required from local WFOUser input required from local WFO• Type of airmass regimeType of airmass regime

Cold front, Dryline, No TS, Dvlpg Ts, Stnry Cold front, Dryline, No TS, Dvlpg Ts, Stnry Fnt, Advect, MxdFnt, Advect, Mxd

• boundaries, regions, polygonsboundaries, regions, polygons Nudge up/downNudge up/down

ITWSITWS(Integrated Terminal Weather (Integrated Terminal Weather

System)System)

Integrates several radar systemsIntegrates several radar systemsSix radarsSix radars

(1) NEXRAD(1) NEXRAD

(2) TDWRs(2) TDWRs

(3) ASR-9s(3) ASR-9s TCWF – TCWF – (Terminal Convective Weather Forecast) (Terminal Convective Weather Forecast)

• 0 – 1 hour location of precipitation0 – 1 hour location of precipitation• VIL intensityVIL intensity

PACEPACE(Prototype Aviation Collaborative Effort)(Prototype Aviation Collaborative Effort) Displays current significant Displays current significant

thunderstorm activity thunderstorm activity Significant thunderstormsSignificant thunderstorms

• VIL intensityVIL intensity• LightningLightning• Echo tops > 15,000 ft.Echo tops > 15,000 ft.

Incorporates NCWF2 forecast Incorporates NCWF2 forecast (0-2 hr.) (0-2 hr.)

PACEPACE(Prototype Aviation Collaborative Effort)(Prototype Aviation Collaborative Effort) Plan ViewPlan View

• TS forecast 30, 60, 90 and 120 min.TS forecast 30, 60, 90 and 120 min.• Updated every 5 minutesUpdated every 5 minutes

Timeline displayTimeline display• 0-2 hr. at 5 min. intervals0-2 hr. at 5 min. intervals• Threat boxes indicate TS within 10 nm.Threat boxes indicate TS within 10 nm.

Major jet routesMajor jet routes Arrival and departure gatesArrival and departure gates

Algorithms currrently very simplisticAlgorithms currrently very simplistic

NCWF-6NCWF-6(National Convective Weather Forecast-6 hours)(National Convective Weather Forecast-6 hours)

Displays current and forecast Displays current and forecast significant thunderstorm activitysignificant thunderstorm activity• Significant thunderstormsSignificant thunderstorms

VIL intensityVIL intensity LightningLightning Echo tops > 15000 ft.Echo tops > 15000 ft.

Displays forecast of activity (0-6hrs.)Displays forecast of activity (0-6hrs.)• Threat probabilityThreat probability

CCFP

Arrival/Departure Gate Sector TDA Arrival/Departure Gate Sector TDA Forecast ToolsForecast Tools

Convective ForecastingConvective Forecasting• NEXRADNEXRAD• Auto-Nowcaster – Auto-Nowcaster – Thunderstorm initiation toolThunderstorm initiation tool

• TCWF – TCWF – Terminal Convective Weather Forecast (ITWS)Terminal Convective Weather Forecast (ITWS) 0-1 hour0-1 hour

• PACE - PACE - Prototype Aviation Collaborative EffortPrototype Aviation Collaborative Effort 0-2 hours0-2 hours

• NCWF-6 - NCWF-6 - National Convective Weather ForecastNational Convective Weather Forecast 0-6 hours0-6 hours

• CCFP – CCFP – Collaborate Convective Forecast ProductCollaborate Convective Forecast Product 2-6 hours2-6 hours

Product DevelopmentProduct Development

PACEPACE• Earth System Research Lab/Global Systems Division - Earth System Research Lab/Global Systems Division -

Greg PrattGreg Pratt

NCWF6NCWF6• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) - Dr. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) - Dr.

James PintoJames Pinto www.ral.ucar.edu/lar/2006/priorities/4.8.phpwww.ral.ucar.edu/lar/2006/priorities/4.8.php

Auto-NowcasterAuto-Nowcaster• University Center for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) - University Center for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) -

Rita RobertsRita Roberts www.rap.ucar.edu/projects/nowcastwww.rap.ucar.edu/projects/nowcast

SummarySummary

DefineDefine ZFW ARTCCZFW ARTCC Types of TDAs used at FTW CWSUTypes of TDAs used at FTW CWSU



FTW CWSU web siteFTW CWSU web site

www.srh.noaa.gov/zfwwww.srh.noaa.gov/zfw

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Tactical Decision Aids In use at Fort Worth CWSU James Ott