Medium Intensity Airport Weather System (MIAWS)
Summary
Operational experience with the Integrated Terminal Weather Systems (ITWS) and Airport Surveillance Radar, Model 9, (ASR-9) Weather System Processor (WSP) demonstration systems, studies of pilot weather avoidance decision making), and recent accidents have demonstrated the need to provide timely, accurate information on the location and movement of storms to air traffic controllers, pilots, and airline dispatch. At medium-intensity airports, generally those with too few flight operations to justify the presence of Doppler radar systems like the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) or the WSP, terminal air traffic surveillance is currently provided with the ASR-7 and ASR-8 radar systems. The ASR-7 and ASR-8 do not provide calibrated precipitation intensity products or any storm motion information. The Medium-Intensity Airport Weather System (MIAWS) program is intended to address these terminal weather information deficiencies. MIAWS-generated products would be displayed to tower and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) supervisors and delivered to aircraft cockpits and airline dispatchers to assist pilots during landings. Initially, the MIAWS will provide a real time display of storm positions and motion based on Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) product data using a product generation and display system derived from the WSP. Airport wind and wind shear information will be acquired from an FAA Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS). A demonstration system will be installed and demonstrated at experimental sites in Memphis, TN and Jackson, MS in 2000 and potentially at a third site in 2001. This demonstration system will be used to assess technical and operational issues such as compensation for the relatively slow updates of the NEXRAD products and, Anomalous Propagation (AP) ground clutter. The ASR-11 is a replacement for the ASR-7/8 radars that feature a weather reflectivity processing channel. When it becomes available at MIAWS locations, the MIAWS processor will acquire and display precipitation and storm movement products derived from the ASR-11. Likewise, when an LLWAS Relocation/Sustainment (LLWAS-RS) (Nilsen, et al., 1999) becomes available at MIAWS locations, the MIAWS will acquire wind and wind shear information derived from the LLWAS-RS.