Chapter 14. Aviation Meteorological Services and Equipment

Section 1. General

14-1-1. FAA-NWS AGREEMENT

By interagency agreement, FAA and NWS cooperate in providing aviation meteorological services to the aviation public. This cooperation is designed to provide maximum service within the combined capabilities of the two agencies.

14-1-2. CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORITY

a. FSS personnel must obtain a certificate of authority from the NWS before performing the following functions:

1. Weather observing.

2. Interpretation of weather radar.

3. Pilot weather briefing.

4. EFAS (Flight Watch).

b. FSS personnel selected as Academy instructors who hold current certificates of authority for Weather Observations/Pilot Weather Briefings may maintain their currency by forwarding the certificates to the Weather Service Coordinator, AMA-514.

14-1-3. LIAISON WITH AVIATION INTERESTS

a. Because of their aviation service responsibilities, FSS supervisors should establish and maintain cordial relations with aviation interests within their flight plan areas. They should keep apprised of aviation users' weather and aeronautical information needs and assist them in making effective use of the available services. This liaison should include other FAA facilities, NWS facilities, airport management, airline and military operations offices, fixed base operators, pilot organizations, and Civil Air Patrol (CAP).

b. Some aviation operations (e.g., emergency medical flights) require time critical services. Immediate dispatch of the mission is imperative and delays in obtaining required weather and aeronautical information may be life endangering. FSS managers must cooperate to the fullest extent possible with organizations making requests for special arrangements to satisfy their requirement.

14-1-4. TELEPHONE LISTINGS

FSS air traffic managers must ensure that appropriate telephone numbers are properly listed in telephone directories (including yellow pages when applicable) and in the Airport/Facility Directory. Include TEL-TWEB (Alaska only), and Fast File in the local directories, and ensure that Foreign Exchange, Enterprise, etc., are listed in the directories of the areas which they serve. Numbers should always be listed under the subheading Flight Service Station under United States Government, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration. When possible, list the primary pilot weather briefing number under the Frequently Requested Numbers section at the beginning of United States Government listings.

EXAMPLE-
United States Government
Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Service Station
(Address)
Pilot Weather Briefing ¹
Fast File Flight Plan
Facility Supervisor ²
/1/ Parent FSS number for part-time FSSs.
/2/ Administrative number.

14-1-5. MINIMUM WEATHER EQUIPMENT

FSSs taking basic weather observations must have:

a. A ceilometer (balloons and ceiling lights are acceptable until replaced).

b. A hygrothermometer and a sling psychrometer for use in the event the hygrothermometer is inoperative.

c. A wind direction and speed system. (A gust recorder, if required, will be furnished by NWS.)

d. A standard 8-inch rain gauge (furnished by NWS if the station reports precipitation).

e. An altimeter setting indicator and a traceable pressure standard. (A barograph, if required, will be furnished by NWS.)

14-1-6. SUPPLY-SUPPORT

Equipment used exclusively for aviation observations will be procured, installed, operated, maintained, and supply-supported by FAA. Observational equipment; e.g., gust recorders, barographs, and rain gauges, serving multiple NWS/FAA purposes will be procured, installed, maintained, and supply-supported by NWS unless otherwise agreed to. To the maximum extent possible, each agency should avail itself of the facilities offered by the other in contracting for, installing, maintaining, and supply-supporting observational equipment on a nonreimbursable basis where appropriate.

14-1-7. NWS OPERATIONS MANUAL

a. Specialized Weather Services, Chapter D-20 through Chapter D-27, are distributed by Washington headquarters to all FSS facilities. When other D Chapters are required, facility managers must arrange for routine distribution through the respective Flight Services Operations Service Area Office.

b. If the listed Weather Service Operations Manuals (WSOM) and associated Operational Manual Letters (OML) are not available through FAA Distribution, those items annotated with an asterisk may be obtained from:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Logistics Supply Center
1510 East Bannister Road
Building 1
Kansas City, Missouri 64131

Remaining documents may be obtained by contacting the Weather Service Evaluation Officer (WSEO) servicing your area.

c. Following is a list of the available chapters. They are amended and supplemented by the issuance of either a revision or an Operations Manual Letter (OML). When ordering, specify the effected D chapter, the revision or the OML, and include the issuance number and the date. (See TBL 14-1-1.)

TBL 14-1-1
D-Chapter Listing