The Aviation Weather Observation Program (AWOP) is the official owner of FAA policy and oversight of Aviation Weather Observations in the National Airspace System (NAS). AWOP provides aviation weather information through certified government personnel, contract service providers and non-federal weather observers. The program is driven both by the weather observation requirements outlined in 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 and 135 requirements and the recognition that human observation of weather conditions that augment automated systems are critical to safety.
Specifically, AWOP:
- Acts as the Office of Primary Responsibility for the FAA Orders that govern weather observations
- Oversees aviation weather observer certification process
- Owns and manages the Contract Weather Observation (CWO) contract
- Provides quality assurance services
Program governs weather observations at approximately 585 locations:
- CWO Contract – 135 locations (congressionally mandated)
- Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS) — air traffic control towers and federal contract towers, more than 390 locations
- Non-Federal Observer (NF-OBS) Program – non-federal contract towers, more than 60 locations
CWO – Contract Weather Observation Program
What is it?
The CWO program provides certified contract weather observers that both augment and backup automated weather observation system (AWOS/Automated Surface Observing Systems) observations at Service Level A and B towers as outlined in FAA Joint Order (JO) 7900.5 Surface Weather Observing, and a limited set of non-towered Alaska airports based on need. CWOs are currently mandated by Congress per the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act.
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 in coordination with the FAA.
CWO Areas
LAWRS – Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Service
What is it?
The CWO program provides certified contract weather observers that both augment and backup automated weather observation system (AWOS/Automated Surface Observing Systems) observations at Service Level A and B towers as outlined in FAA Joint Order (JO) 7900.5 Surface Weather Observing, and a limited set of non-towered Alaska airports based on need. CWOs are currently mandated by Congress per the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act.
Purpose
The purpose of LAWRS is to provide required weather observation and augmentation services when required at airports that do not have a designated CWO and generally apply to Service Level C airports as outlined in FAA JO 7900.5 Surface Weather Observing. The LAWRS observer has the complete responsibility for the surface aviation weather elements in the Aviation Routine Weather Report/Aviation Selected Special Weather Report.
How to Certify
FAA LAWRS weather observer proficiency requirements are governed by FAA JO 7900.5 Surface Weather Observing and FAA JO 3120.4 Air Traffic Technical Training and applies to FAA, FSS, and FCT observers. General programmatic procedures are outlined in FAA JO 7230.8B Limited Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS).
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 a formal agreement to provide backup and/or augmentation of the automated system, or provide manual weather observation services as needed in support of Part 121 and Part 135 operations at an airport that do not have a CWO or LAWRS observer. NF-OBS observers may include NFCT controllers, airline personnel, fixed-base operator personnel or other entities.
How to Apply
The approval process involves both weather observer certification in accordance with FAA JO 7900.5, and the general procedures outlined in FAA JO 7210.77 Non-Federal Weather Observers. Contact the AWOP office for more information.
Contact Information:
Aviation Weather Observation Program Office
Aviation Weather and Aeronautical Services Programs
Enterprise Services Group AJM-3
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
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