AVIATION WEATHER. FAA NEEDS TO RESOLVE QUESTIONS INVOLVING THE USE OF NEW RADARS

An evaluation was made of specific aspects of three weather related systems: the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR-9) weather channel, the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), and the Aeronautical Data Link. The availability of weather information from these systems is vital to the safety of aviation. This report (1) describes the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) progress in preparing operational procedures for using and disseminating weather information from the ASR-9 and the TDWR and (2) assesses the status and availability of initial data link weather services. Briefly, it was found that: (1) FAA has not established formal procedures for sending ASR-9 weather data from air traffic controllers to pilots, although the first radar is now operational and additional radars will soon be deployed; (2) FAA is currently evaluating procedures for disseminating TDWR weather information; and (3) Initial weather services, such as hazardous weather advisories, which FAA plans to provide aircraft through the Aeronautical Data Link, may be delayed for more than 2 years (December 1990 to March 1993) because of significant slippage in the schedule for a major interrelated system.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?recflag=&rptno=RCED-90-17
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report to the Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives.
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1989-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation; Airports; Doppler radar; Evaluation; Radar; Safety; Surveillance; Weather; Weather radar
• Old TRIS Terms: Aeronautical data link; Airport surveillance radar, asr-9
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488549
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO/RCED-90-17
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1989 12:00AM