ato

Q2 2023 Airport Construction Impact Report

Aviation Weather Observation Program

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

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 14 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 Locations Map

LAWRS – Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Service

What is it?

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
DJT - President Donald J. Trump Int'l
FLL - Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Int'l
JAX - Jacksonville Int'l Arpt
MCO - Orlando Int'l
MIA - Miami 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

Talethia H. Thomas

Friday, September 13, 2024

Ms. Thomas is the Acting Vice President for Program Management Office for the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). Management Services provides administrative support to all ATO Service Units enabling them to focus on their core mission. She oversees the prioritization and distribution of ATO’s financial and people resources; provide technical labor relations advice; improve processes in technical hiring; provide leadership and employee development; and strengthen organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.

Ms. Thomas has over 25 years of civilian service across three federal agencies, specializing in business operations and mission support. She is a graduate of the FAA’s Senior Leadership Development Program and the Federal Executive Institute.

Since joining the ATO in 2014, Ms. Thomas has held positions as deputy vice president for Management services, senior advisor to the vice president for Air Traffic Services and as the Standardization manager in Safety and Technical Training. In all three, she was key in cultivating a balance between the operational mission and organizational advancement through workforce development, outreach, and strategic communications. Before joining the ATO, Ms. Thomas was a business manager in Aviation Safety-Air Traffic Safety Oversight.

Ms. Thomas served in a variety of capacities within the Department of Defense, as a budget analyst intern, Strategic Human Capital Division chief and deputy chief of staff. During her tenure at the Department of Treasury, she was an Office of Inspector General financial and program auditor and a manager overseeing financial management policy development at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Ms. Thomas holds a master’s degree from Troy State University and a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including the DOT Secretary’s Team Award for EEO/Affirmative Action, as well as other Civilian Achievement Medals. In her free time, she volunteers with professional, educational and community organizations that promote breast cancer awareness, programs for children with learning disabilities, and careers in aviation.

Brian Throop

Mr. Brian V. Throop is the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Acting Vice President for Air Traffic Services within the Air Traffic Organization (ATO).

He provides leadership and direction to more than 18,000 employees who collectively provide safe and efficient air navigation services to 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers every day across more than 29 million square miles of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Mr. Throop joined the FAA in 1984 as an air traffic controller. He served in a number of staff and supervisory positions in the southwest U.S. before moving to FAA headquarters in 1997 as a program specialist in the Oceanic and International Branch.

Between 1998 and 2002, he served as the air traffic representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Latin America Region, representing U.S. interests and providing subject matter expertise on a wide range of operational and procedural issues.

In 2002, Mr. Throop was selected as the FAA representative to the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Western Air Defense Sector where he helped shape the FAA's partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

In 2004, He joined the newly formed System Operations Security directorate, the organization within FAA charged with ensuring the operational security of the National Airspace System while maximizing access for all legitimate users.

Mr. Throop has been awarded a number of Agency and Department level awards, including the Administrator’s Award for Excellence, the DOT National Security Medal and the DOT Outstanding Achievement Award for his work to combat human trafficking. In 2019, Mr. Throop was awarded DOT's highest honor, the Secretary's Gold Medal.

Mr. Throop is a member of FAA's Native American/Alaska Native Association. He is also active in the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, the Helicopter Safety Advisory Council and numerous national security forums.