Safety Recommendation A-14-018

We note that you and the FAA have decided to include mountain wave activity information in the graphical airmen’s meteorological information advisories (AIRMETs) after text AIRMETs have been retired next year.

During a June 7, 2022, meeting of staff from the NWS, FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board, we explained that the intent of this recommendation is to identify turbulence—not all activity—caused by mountain waves. Although we believe your plan to include mountain wave activity information in graphical AIRMETs is responsive, we reiterate that we are only interested in capturing mountain wave activity and associated features that cause turbulence. Pending completion of that action, Safety Recommendation A 14 18 remains classified OPEN-- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From John D. Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, NOAA National Weather Service: The NWS continues to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to identify the best way to address mountain wave activity. On June 5, 2022, staff from NWS Headquarters, Aviation Weather Center (AWC), the FAA, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) met to discuss the NTSB’s intention with this recommendation, define terminology (i.e., what is specifically meant by “primary product”), and potential avenues to explore to formally address the recommendation.

Following this meeting, NWS staff continue to meet monthly with the FAA and internally to ensure work is progressing in the correct manner to appropriately and efficiently produce information in an NWS product that does not create confusion or other safety issues for the National Airspace System (NAS). The agreed-upon solution between the FAA and NWS is to place mountain wave activity information in the Graphical AIRMET product (G-AIRMET) after the text AIRMET has been retired. The target date for including mountain wave activity is April-June 2024.

On August 19, 2019, our staff met with NWS staff to discuss multiple recommendations, including Safety Recommendation A-14-18. During that meeting, we pointed out that your Graphic Turbulence Guidance is not responsive to this recommendation.

We emphasized to your staff that developing a new aviation weather product is not necessary, and that adding “turbulence caused by mountain wave activity” (or similar wording) to the text of airmen’s meteorological information advisories (AIRMETs), similar to the inclusion of “turbulence caused by mountain wave activity” sometimes found in significant meteorological information advisories, without changing the product’s headline would satisfy the intent of this recommendation. Pending completion of that action, Safety Recommendation A 14 18 remains classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From John D. Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, NOAA National Weather Service: In October 2015, the Aviation Weather Center implemented Graphical Turbulence Guidance Version 3, including distinct mountain wave turbulence forecasts, on the AWC website (https://aviationweather.gov/turbulence/gtg). Also, the NWS Western Region Center Weather Service Units (CWSU) issue weather advisories for mountain wave activity, consistent with severe turbulence criteria. NWS recommends Safety Recommendation A-14-18 be closed.

You previously said that you would add the Graphic Turbulence Guidance-Mountain Wave capability to the Aviation Digital Data Services. We pointed out, however, that simply adding “turbulence caused by mountains” to existing NWS notices—such as significant meteorological information notices, airmen’s meteorological information notices, and center weather advisories—would satisfy this recommendation. It has now been almost 5 years since this recommendation was issued and we have not received any additional information from you regarding any actions that you have completed or planned in response to this recommendation.

Pending our receipt of an update, Safety Recommendation A-14-18 remains classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

We note (1) that you plan to coordinate with the FAA to determine the most effective way to produce and disseminate turbulence forecasts, warnings, and advisories; (2) that you plan to use the FAA’s new Graphic Turbulence Guidance-Mountain Wave (GTG-MW) system upon its release; and (3) that you will add GTG-MW capability to the Aviation Digital Data Services you provide for flight-planning purposes. However, although GTG-MW will provide more timely and accurate turbulence forecasts, it is not directly applicable to this recommendation because it is a supplemental, not a primary, product; it is a potentially useful tool for preflight planning, but is not usable by airplanes in the air.

In fact, taking the action in this recommendation is simpler than developing GTG-MW. Just adding “turbulence caused by mountains” to existing NWS notices?such as significant meteorological information notices, airmen’s meteorological information notices, and center weather advisories?will satisfy this recommendation. Pending completion of that action, Safety Recommendation A-14-18 is classified OPEN—ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From Louis W. Uccellini, Director, National Weather Service: The NWS will coordinate with the FAA to determine the most effective way to produce and disseminate turbulence forecasts, warnings, and advisories including turbulence caused by mountain waves. The Aviation Weather Center is evaluating probabilistic mountain wave forecast techniques and related mountain wave activity product. In the near future, the NWS will use the new Graphic Turbulence Guidance- Mountain Wave capability being developed by the FAA and will add that capability to the Aviation Digital Data Services for light planning purposes.