Safety Recommendation A-14-015

-From Bryan Bedford, Administrator: The FAA, in coordination with the NWS, ensured that the new Memorandum of Understanding enables the NWS to assume the recommended responsibilities identified in Safety Recommendations A-14-17 and A-14-18. Turbulence by mountain wave activity was integrated into the Graphical Airman’s Meteorological Information (G-AIRMET) advisories beginning April 30, 2026. The NWS’s Service Change Notice 26-17, Updated: Implementation of Mountain Wave Turbulence to the Graphical AIRMETs, is available at the following website:

https://www.weather.gov/media/notification/pdf_2026/scn26- 17_Updated_Mountain_Wave_Turbulence_aaa.pdf

The G-AIRMET retired the text AIRMET back in January 2025. It is available at the following website:

https://aviationweather.gov/gfa/#gairmet

I believe the FAA has effectively addressed the safety issues identified in Safety Recommendations A-14-13 through A-14-15 and consider our actions complete.

In 2019, the NWS informed us, in response to Safety Recommendation A-14-19, which is the companion to this recommendation, that the NWS and FAA review the IA and accompanying SOW for needed revisions annually; however, the IA and accompanying SOW had not been revised, as recommended, because the NWS had not identified any new responsibilities in response to Safety Recommendations A-14-17 and -18. During an August 19, 2019, meeting of staff from the NWS and the NTSB, we informed the NWS that adding turbulence, including MWA, to the IA and SOW would satisfy the intent of this recommendation.

We note that the IA and accompanying SOW have still not been revised, and you did not report any plans to address this recommendation. We urge you to work with the NWS to make the recommended revisions to the IA and SOW without any further delays. In the meantime, pending the completion of that action, Safety Recommendation A-14-15 is classified OPEN-- UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From Kathryn B. Thomson, Deputy Administrator: The Federal Aviation Administration continues to work with the NWS to address these recommendations. The MWA remains scheduled for inclusion in the standalone G AIRMET graphical Airmen’s Meteorological Information (G-AIRMET); however, due to delays in the retirement of the text AIRMET, the target date for inclusion is now January 2025.

I will keep the Board informed of our progress with Safety Recommendations A-14-14 and -15 and anticipate providing an update by September 30, 2024.

We note that the NWS is planning to include terminology for describing MWA as part of an update to the graphical-airmen’s meteorological information notices (G-AIRMETs), which is a primary aviation weather product that is currently included in the preflight weather briefing package. Pending implementation of the updated G-AIRMET and any necessary revisions to the interagency agreement, Safety Recommendations A-14-14 and -15 remain classified OPEN-- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

From Billy Nolen, Acting Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration: This is our final response to Safety Recommendation A-14-13, further response to Safety Recommendations A-14-14 and -15, and supplements our previous letters.The FAA incorrectly stated that it added “turbulence caused by mountains” to Airmen’s Meteorological Information Notices (AIRMET) in our January 21, 2020, letter. The FAA clarified with the NWS that this phrase would not be added due to the continued development of graphical AIRMETs (G-AIRMETs), which will eventually replace AIRMETs. G-AIRMETS will include the appropriate MWA weather data, and issuance is projected to begin in April 2023.

I believe that the FAA has effectively addressed Safety Recommendation A-14-13, and I consider our actions complete. I will keep the Board informed of our progress with Safety Recommendations A-14-14 and -15 and anticipate providing an update by September 30, 2023.

You reported that the changes made by the NWS to ensure consistency among forecast products in response to Safety Recommendation A-14-14 are covered under the existing scope of the interagency agreement between the FAA and the NWS for CWSUs; therefore, you do not believe the interagency agreement needs to be revised.

We are concerned that the changes that you reported in response to Safety Recommendation A-14-14 have not been applied to AIRMETs. In addition, it is our understanding, as noted in response to Safety Recommendation A-14-14, that, due to current character limitations in place for AIRMETs, the NWS is unable to make this change without FAA approval. Although resolving this issue may not require revisions to the interagency agreement, we believe it would be premature to close this recommendation before this issue has been resolved. Pending our receipt and review of this additional information, Safety Recommendation A-14-15 remains classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From Steve Dickson, Administrator: The FAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the NWS did not identify the need for new or modified responsibilities when responding to Safety Recommendations A-14-1 7 and -18. Changes made by the NWS to ensure consistency among forecast products. including language in CWSU weather advisories for MWA, are covered under the existing scope of the Interagency Agreement between the FAA and the NWS for CWSU.

The FAA determined that there is no need to update the interagency agreement or accompanying statement of work.

We note that, before the Interagency Agreement and the CWSU statement of work can be revised, you must first complete your work with the NWS to determine the most appropriate point of origin for new or modified products. Pending our review of the draft revisions and completion of the recommended action, Safety Recommendation A-14-15 remains classified OPEN—ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From Michael P. Huerta, Administrator: The FAA believes there are more effective solutions than adding new responsibilities of CWSU personnel to address the product issues identified in A-14-17 and -18. In order to determine the best way to address the Safety Recommendation, we are coordinating with the NWS regarding requirements for new or modified products. A key part of this coordination is determining the most appropriate NWS point of origin for such products. Therefore, revision of the CWSU Interagency Agreement and statement of work awaits final determination of new or modified product requirements with the most appropriate NWS point of origin.

I will keep the Board informed of the FAA's progress on this safety recommendation and update the Board by November 2016.

We note that you plan to negotiate with the NWS to revise the Interagency Agreement and the CWSU statement of work as recommended, following the NWS and FAA’s agreement on, and implementation of, advisory and warning services for turbulence. Accordingly, pending completion of the recommended action, Safety Recommendation A-14-15 is classified OPEN—ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From Michael P. Huerta, Administrator: The FAA will continue to work with the NWS on a holistic approach to providing improved aviation turbulence advisory and warning services. Following NWS and FAA agreement on, and implementation of, advisory and warning services for turbulence, negotiations to revise the Interagency Agreement and/or the CWSU statement of work will be considered.