Center Weather Service Unit
Encyclopedia
A Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) is a National Weather Service
(NWS) unit located inside each of the Federal Aviation Administration
's 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC).
Meteorologists disseminate information to brief air traffic control
area managers where, when, and what is expected, when the weather arrives in the ARTCC's various sectors. Dissemination is by computer products, by incoming phone requests, and by stand up briefings. Occasionally CWSUs provide weather information and recommendations directly to air traffic controller
s. They sometimes will provide information directly to the pilot
s of aircraft in distress due to hazardous weather conditions. In addition to SIGMET
s (significant meteorological events), Convective SIGMETs (significant meteorological event associated with convection), and AIRMET
s (significant meteorological events generally effecting smaller aircraft) issued by the Aviation Weather Center (AWC), CWSUs issue Center Weather Advisories (CWA), and Meteorological Impact Statements (MIS) as necessary.
CWSUs are staffed by NWS meteorologists, but their operations are eventually reimbursed by the FAA's budget under an "Interagency Agreement". Due to budget pressures, the FAA was considering closing the CWSU program up to 2006.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
(NWS) unit located inside each of the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
's 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC).
Overview
CWSU meteorologists provide support for FAA's air traffic management with pertinent meteorological information for airports and airspace in the control center's area of responsibility.Meteorologists disseminate information to brief air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
area managers where, when, and what is expected, when the weather arrives in the ARTCC's various sectors. Dissemination is by computer products, by incoming phone requests, and by stand up briefings. Occasionally CWSUs provide weather information and recommendations directly to air traffic controller
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...
s. They sometimes will provide information directly to the pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
s of aircraft in distress due to hazardous weather conditions. In addition to SIGMET
SIGMET
SIGMET, or Significant Meteorological Information, is a weather advisory that contains meteorological information concerning the safety of all aircraft. There are two types of SIGMETs, convective and non-convective...
s (significant meteorological events), Convective SIGMETs (significant meteorological event associated with convection), and AIRMET
AIRMET
An AIRMET, or Airmen's Meteorological Information, is a concise description of weather phenomena that are occurring or may occur along an air route that may affect aircraft safety...
s (significant meteorological events generally effecting smaller aircraft) issued by the Aviation Weather Center (AWC), CWSUs issue Center Weather Advisories (CWA), and Meteorological Impact Statements (MIS) as necessary.
CWSUs are staffed by NWS meteorologists, but their operations are eventually reimbursed by the FAA's budget under an "Interagency Agreement". Due to budget pressures, the FAA was considering closing the CWSU program up to 2006.