NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-13-026
Recommendation
TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Install and maintain aviation weather cameras in those mountain passes in the continental United States identified in its research as being high risk. Establish public access to these aviation weather cameras’ real-time imagery.
Safety Issue and Context
Since 1997, the NTSB has investigated numerous accidents2 in Hawaii involving aircraft that encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and/or other adverse weather phenomena while operating under daytime visual flight rules (VFR) under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 or Part 91. These accidents, nine of which involved helicopters and four of which involved single-engine airplanes, resulted in 48 fatalities and 4 minor injuries and in substantial damage to the aircraft. Seven of the accidents were sightseeing air tour flights.
Generally, the pilots flew into IMC or other adverse weather phenomena, such as rain showers, rain squalls, mist, fog, heavy clouds, and areas of low visibility. In addition, the aircraft were operating in areas of variable terrain, such as mountains, ridges, craters, and volcanos, and the pilots were unable to maintain clearance with that terrain.
Response History
August 14, 2024 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
We are pleased to learn that you have received a positive final investment decision for 160 new FAA weather camera sites in Alaska and CONUS, and that you are currently working to install these cameras. We note that the FAA’s Weather Camera (WCAM) Program plans to operate WCAM facilities at 26 identified locations in Hawaii and, as of July 2, 2024, 21 of those locations were operational.
We are encouraged that, since your 2022 update, you have completed seven additional weather camera sites in Hawaii and that the remaining five sites will be completed by fiscal year 2025. We look forward to receiving your next update. Pending WCAM facilities being installed at all locations identified in Hawaii and CONUS, Safety Recommendations A-13-25 and -26 remain classified OPEN-- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
March 4, 2024 · Recipient Response · FAA
-From Michael G. Whitaker, Administrator: In its previous letter, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed the Board that the Final Investment Decision for the expansion of the Weather Camera (WCAM) Program in Alaska, Hawaii, and the CONUS was scheduled for August 2023.
The FAA received a positive Final Investment Decision to install 160 new FAA weather camera sites in Alaska and the CONUS. Installation of these cameras is scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
In Hawaii, the WCAM Program aims to operate WCAM facilities at 26 identified locations, with 17 weather camera sites currently operational to date. The remaining nine weather camera sites are planned for installation by FY 2025. The updated status of all online WCAMs is available at: weathercams.faa.gov.
The FAA continues to work with our internal stakeholders to define the technical capabilities and training requirements that would enable flight service station specialists in Hawaii and the CONUS to incorporate the aviation WCAM imagery into preflight and en route briefings.
I will keep the Board informed of the FAA’s progress on these safety recommendations and anticipate providing an update by December 31, 2024.