Experimental service bringing weather forecasts to 61 Alaska airports
The FAA has published guidance to help pilots use an experimental product that has brought weather forecasting to 61 Alaska airports not served by a conventional terminal area forecast.
The automated system known as Alaska Aviation Guidance, provided by the National Weather Service, offers a decoded, plain-language forecast that is valid for six hours, updated hourly. It includes the airport’s most recent surface weather observation.
The product has several technical limitations, such as not reporting conditions like thunderstorms or blowing snow. “If precipitation is forecasted, other products, including SIGMETs and Next Generation (NEXRAD) weather radar, where available, can determine if hazardous convective weather will be present when the aircraft arrives. The operator may then plan appropriately,” says the InFo document.
The publication lists the airports where the service is available through the typical communication lines that provide weather information in Alaska. The National Weather Service is soliciting comments and feedback on the usability of the product through an online survey.
“AOPA supports this effort, and encourages pilots to cautiously try this product,” said AOPA Alaska Regional Manager Tom George, who urged pilots to review the system’s capabilities and limitations and participate in the survey.
In October 2019, AOPA reported on delays in the rollout of the system from the previous year but noted that it had the potential to provide significant benefits in Alaska, where pilots are often faced with scarce availability of current, reliable weather information.
