References
- National Research Council 1995. Aviation Weather Services: A Call for Federal Leadership and Action. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/5037
- Federal Aviation Administration. Air Traffic by the Numbers.Washington D.C., Last modified March 19, 2020. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/
In its latest white paper, Intellisense Systems explores the meteorological challenges facing small, regional, remote, or unmanned airfields.
Small airports connect remote and inaccessible communities to the wider world, and they enable key aviation activities like emergency services, cargo deliveries, flight training, and recreational flying. Small towns and businesses may rely on unstaffed or attended landing areas to receive much needed supplies, and the accessibility afforded by airfields, heliports, and seaplane bases can deliver the people and infrastructure needed to turn a remote location into a thriving community.
However, weather remains the greatest limiter in air traffic delays and safety. According to recent studies, nearly 50% of air traffic delays are the result of adverse weather conditions1, costing airlines and passengers a combined $22.5 billion in 20182. As a result, advanced weather-sensing solutions are vital toward ensuring safe and timely air travel for these remote or unmanned airfields.
While large hub airports rely on advanced weather reporting technology and the infrastructure of urban areas, the over 20,000 smaller airports, heliports, and seaplane bases in the United States require more nimble and cost-efficient solutions to address their weather sensing needs. These include airfields that offer general aviation services like crop dusting and backcountry sports. They also encompass hospitals with helipads that provide the fastest possible emergency transportation for patients. In general, these unmanned airfields and landing areas do not have air traffic control towers or sophisticated weather-sensing equipment needed to keep passengers, pilots, and crew safe.
There are a variety of weather reporting solutions for these unmanned landing areas, each with their strengths and weaknesses. An automated weather observing system, or AWOS, can accurately capture all of the meteorological data needed to ensure safe arrivals at these rural airports. However, they are very expensive to install and maintain. An automated weather station, or AWS, can also report many of the same environmental parameters, but they lack the certifications and compliance with the FAA, FCC, and World Meteorological Organization.
In the white paper Weather Sensing Needs for Small Airports, Heliports, and Seaplane Bases, we explore the current weather sensing requirements that these small, regional, or unmanned landing areas need. We also examine the differences between sophisticated systems like the AWOS, and more cost-effective options like automated weather stations. This paper also delves into the environmental parameters that pilots and aircraft crew need if they are to make safe landings at unmanned airfields and helipads.
For more information, please click the link below, or access the paper from the Document Library.