Aviation Weather Observation Program (AWOP) provides aviation weather information through government personnel and contract service providers. AWOP is the official owner of FAA policy and oversight of Aviation Weather Observations in the NAS. The program was established to satisfy Federal Register (FR) 96-16046: Weather Observation Service Standards that sets weather augmentation requirements for all airport service levels (A, B, C, D). The Contract Weather Observer Program observes, disseminates, and augments weather phenomena on a routine basis throughout the NAS.
- Office of Primary Responsibility for the FAA Orders that govern weather observations
- Oversee aviation weather observer certification process
- Own and Manage the Contract Weather Observation (CWO) contract
- Provide Quality Assurance Services
Program governs weather observations at 652 locations:
- Contract Weather Observation (CWO) Contract – 11 Areas, 135 Locations
- Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS)- ATCT & FCT, 393 Locations
- Non-Federal Observer (NF-OBS) Program – NFCT, 40 Locations
- Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (SAWRS) – 84 Locations
LAWRS – Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Service
What is it?
LAWRS are facilities where observations are taken, prepared and transmitted by certified FAA control tower personnel, FAA-contract control tower personnel or Flight Service (Alaska only) Station personnel on a limited basis. The LAWRS observer has the complete responsibility for the surface aviation weather elements in the METAR/SPECI.
Purpose
The purpose of Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS) is for weather observations to be taken, prepared, and transmitted by certified FAA control tower personnel, FAA-contract control tower personnel, or Flight Service (AK only) Station personnel on a limited basis to support aviation requirements.
How to certify
FAA LAWRS proficiency requirements are governed by FAA JO 3120.4. FAA, FSS, and FCT LAWRS candidates. Must take the examination via the FAA Electronic Learning Management System (eLMS) (Course Exam #60004715).
CWO – Contract Weather Observation Program
What is it?
The CWO program provides augmentation and backup of the automated weather observation system (AWOS/ASOS) at every controlled airport in the NAS. The contractors supply certified contract weather observers at the surface to augment and backup the automated weather system at controlled airports and airports in Alaska that do not qualify for the services.
How to certify
Candidates must be hired by a CWO Contract company. Training and certification to take weather observations is the responsibility of the candidate’s employer.
CWO Areas
NON-FED - Non-Federal Aviation Weather Reporting Service
What is it?
The NF-OBS Program is a voluntary program in which FAA certified, non-Federal observers enter into an agreement to provide backup and/or augmentation of the automated system, or provide manual weather observation services in support of Part 121 and Part 135 operations at an airport. NF-OBS observers may include non-Federal control tower (NFCT) controllers, airline personnel, fixed base operator (FBO) personnel, or other entities.
How to apply
The approval process involves certification of Observers IAW FAAO 7900.5 app J., and approval of back-up equipment. Contact AWOP office for more information.
SAWRS – Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Service
What is it?
Supplemental Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (SAWRS) enable airport volunteers to provide manual weather observations or backup automated weather systems at airports in support of Part 135 and Part 121 operations where there is no FAA presence to perform the duties.
There is no entry into the SAWRS program. All entry is now through the Non-Fed Program.
Contact Information:
Aviation Weather Observation Program Office
Flight Service Program Operations Office
In-Service Management Group AJR-B2
Send requests to the AWOP Mailbox:
9-AJO-AJR-FS-AWOP@faa.gov
CWO Areas
Area 1
- DAB - Daytona Beach Int'l
- FLL - Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Int'l
- JAX - Jacksonville Int'l Arpt
- MCO - Orlando Int'l
- MIA - Miami Int'l
- PBI - Palm Beach Int'l
- SJU - Luis Munoz Marin Int'l Arpt
- TLH - Tallahassee Regional Arpt
- TPA - Tampa Int'l
- CAE - Columbia Metropolitan Arpt
- CHS - Charleston AFB/Int'l Arpt
- SAV - Savannah Municipal Arpt
Area 2
- ATL - William B. Hartsfield Int'l Arpt
- BHM - Birmingham Int'l
- TRI - Tri-Cities Regional
- TYS - McGhee Tyson
- HSV - Huntsville Int'l
- JAN - Jackson Int'l Arpt
- BNA - Nashville Int'l
- CHA - Lovell Field
- CLT - Charlotte/Douglas Int'l
- GSO - Piedmont Triad Int'l
- MEM - Memphis Int'l
- RDU - Raleigh-Durham Int'l
- BWI - Baltimore-Washington Int'l
- DCA - Ronald Reagan National Arpt
- IAD - Washington Dulles Int'l
- RIC - Richmond Int'l
- ROA - Roanoke Regional/Woodrum
- LIT - Adams Field Arpt
Area 3
- SYR - Syracuse Hancock Int'l
- MDT - Harrisburg Int'l Arpt
- MHT - Manchester Arpt
- PHL - Philadelphia Int'l
- ALB - Albany Int'l
- BOS - Logan Int'l Arpt
- BDL - Bradley Int'l
- EWR - Newark Int'l
- ISP - Long Island Mac Arthur Arpt
- JFK - John F. Kennedy Int'l
- LGA - La Guardia Int'l Manchester Arpt
- PVD - Theodore Francis Green State Arpt
- PWM - Portland Int'l Jetport Arpt
- BGR - Bangor Int'l Arpt
- BTV - Burlington Int'l Arpt
Area 4
- AFW - Fort Worth Alliance Arpt
- AUS - Robert Mueller Municipal Arpt
- CRP - Corpus Christi Int'l Arpt
- DAL - Dallas Love Field Dallas
- DFW - Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Arpt
- ELP - El Paso Int'l
- HOU - William P. Hobby Arpt
- IAH - George Bush Intercontinental
- LBB - Lubbock Int'l Arpt
- SAT - San Antonio Int'l
- ABQ - Albuquerque Int'l Sunport Arpt
- MSY - Louis Armstrong New Orleans Int'l
- OKC - Will Rogers World
- SHV - Shreveport Regional Arpt
- TUL - Tulsa Int'l
- PHX - Phoenix Sky Harbor Int'l Arpt
- MOB - Mobile Regional Arpt
Area 5
- ICT - Wichita Mid-Continent Arpt
- DLH - Duluth Int'l Arpt
- DSM - Des Moines Int'l Arpt
- FSD - Joe Foss Field
- GFK - Grand Forks International Arpt
- MCI - Kansas City Int'l Arpt
- MSP - Minneapolis – St.Paul Int'l
- OMA - Eppley Airfield
- STL - Lambert-St. Louis Int'l Arpt
- MDW - Chicago Midway
- MKE - Milwaukee Arpt
- MSN - Dane Co. Regional-Truax Field
- ORD - Chicago O’Hare Int'l
- RFD - Greater Rockford Arpt
Area 6
- CRW - Yeager
- CVG - Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Int'l
- SDF - Louisville Muhammad Ali Int'l Arpt
- PIT - Pittsburg Int'l
- BUF - Buffalo-Niagara Int'l Arpt
- ROC - Greater Rochester Int'l
- FWA - Fort Wayne Int'l
- IND - Indianapolis Int'l
- CAK - Akron-Washington County
- CLE - Cleveland-Hopkins Int'l Arpt
- DTW - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
- GRR - Gerald R. Ford Int'l Arpt
- MKG - Muskegon County
- PTK - Oakland County Int'l
- TVC - Pontiac Cherry Capital Arpt
- CMH - Columbus Int'l
- DAY - James M. Cox Dayton Int'l
- YNG - Youngstown-Warren Regional
Area 7
- APA - Centennial Arpt
- BIL - Billings Logan Int'l Arpt
- COS - Colorado Springs Municipal
- DEN - Denver Int'l
- EUG - Mahlon Sweet Field Arpt
- GEG - Spokane Int'l
- LAS - McCarran Int'l Arpt
- PDX - Portland Int'l Arpt
- RNO - Reno/Tahoe Int'l Arpt
- SEA - Seattle-Tacoma Int'l
- SLC - Salt Lake City Int'l Arpt
Area 8
- FAT - Fresno Yosemite Int'l
- HNL - Honolulu Int'l Arpt
- LAX - Los Angeles Int'l
- OAK - Metropolitan Oakland Int'l
- ONT - Ontario Int'l Arpt
- SAN - San Diego Int'l Arpt
- SFO - San Francisco Int'l Arpt
- SJC - San Jose Int'l Arpt
- SNA - John Wayne-Orange County
- SMF - Sacramento Int'l Arpt
Area 9
- ANC - Anchorage Int'l Arpt
- AKN - King Salmon Arpt
- BET - Bethel Arpt
- DUT - Dutch Harbor Unalaska Tom Madsen Arpt
- ILI - Iliamna Arpt
- MRI - Merrill Int'l
- SSDP - and Point Arpt
Area 10
- CDV - Cordova Merle K. Smith Mudhole Arpt
- JNU - Juneau Field
- PSG - Petersburg Arpt
- SIT - Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Arpt
- VDZ - Valdez Pioneer Field Arpt
- WRG - Wrangell Arpt
Area 11
- BIG - Allen Army Airfield
- BTT - Bettles Arpt
- FAI - Fairbanks Int'l Arpt
- FYU - Fort Yukon Arpt
- ORT - Great Circle Arpt
- SCC - Deadhorse Arpt
- TAL - Ralph Calhoun Arpt
Last updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2023