Safety Recommendation A-18-022

We note that the NWS, in cooperation with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s MetEd/COMET Program, developed the training module, “Aviation Hazards: Low-Level Wind Shear and Low-Level Turbulence.” We believe this training module contains good information for forecasters that is responsive to this recommendation. On July 28, 2025, your staff informed my staff that the NWS will notify us once all NWS forecasters have completed this training. We would also like to know how future NWS staff will complete the training (for example, if the training will be incorporated into onboarding or delivered to new employees in some other way).

Pending our receipt of that information, Safety Recommendation A-18-22 remains classified OPEN-- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

We understand that you continue to work with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s MetEd/COMET Program to produce training that addresses this recommendation. COMET has now been funded to develop, design, and distribute the training on behalf of the NWS. We note that this training module is now expected to be ready for distribution late in 2025. Pending the completion and distribution of this training, the Board has voted to retain the classification of OPEN-- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE for Safety Recommendation A-18-22.

-From Ken Harding, Chief Operating Officer, NOAA National Weather Service: The National Weather Service (NWS), with assistance from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s (UCAR) MetEd/COMET Program, has completed the development of the following training module related to low-level wind shear and turbulence. Aviation Hazards: Low level wind shear and low level turbulence

https://www.meted.ucar.edu/education_training/lessons/10184

Per the online summary,

“This lesson introduces aviation forecasters to the impact of low-level wind shear and low-level turbulence on aviation functions within the US National Airspace System (NAS) and how National Weather Service (NWS) programs coordinate the production of relevant non-convective low-level wind shear (LLWS) and low-level turbulence (LLT) forecast products.

In the lesson, learners will examine the roles of aviation forecasters at several key aviation program offices, including National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office (WFO), Center Weather Service Units (CWSU), and the Aviation Weather Center (AWC). Learners will explore the definitions of LLWS and LLT, the differences between their impacts, and analyze, interpret, and forecast both using NWP output. Learners will then assess a real LLWS/LLT forecast situation from 2022, and apply their knowledge to forecast the impacts and issue products. They will see how coordination occurs between relevant external program offices and understand the update process for LLWS/LLT products.

By the end of the lesson, learners will understand not only the impact of LLWS/LLT on the NAS, but also the breadth and depth of collaborative work required to provide forecast product continuity and clear decision support services.”

The NWS believes this fulfills the work necessary and requests recommendation A-18-22 be closed.

The NWS point of contact for these recommendations is Lora Wilson, the NWS Forensic Services Program Manager. Please have your staff contact her, if there are any questions or if additional information is required.

-From Ken Harding, Chief Operating Officer, NOAA National Weather Service: The NWS continues to work with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s MetEd/COMET Program to produce training that addresses this recommendation. COMET has now been funded to develop, design, and distribute the training on behalf of the NWS. COMET and NWS staff, including low-level turbulence subject matter experts (SME), meet regularly to coordinate and design the appropriate training. While anticipated to be completed in FY24, the module may not be ready for distribution until FY25.

We note that you are still working with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s MetEd Program to develop the recommended training, and that you still plan to incorporate this training, once developed, into your Distance Aviation Learning Course (DLAC) and Aviation Professional Development Series (PDS). Pending completion of these actions, Safety Recommendation A-18-22 remains classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From John D. Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, NOAA National Weather Service: The NWS continues to contract UCAR’s MetEd program to devise training specifically focusing on the analysis, interpretation, and forecasting of low-level turbulence. This training will be incorporated into both our Distance Learning Aviation Course (DLAC), which is required training by NWS policy, and the NWS Aviation Professional Development Series (PDS) and will fill the identified gap in low-level turbulence forecasting training. The anticipated completion of the DLAC series, including the low-level turbulence forecast training, is in 2024.

We note that you have contracted with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s MetEd Program to develop training that focuses on analyzing, interpreting, and forecasting low-level turbulence. We also note that you intend to incorporate this training into your Distance Aviation Learning Course and Aviation Professional Development Series. Pending completion of these actions, Safety Recommendation A-18-22 is classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

-From John D. Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, NOAA National Weather Service: As in our response to Recommendation A-14-21, NWS has contracted with UCAR’s MetEd program to devise training specifically focusing on the analysis, interpretation, and forecasting of low-level turbulence. This training will be incorporated into both our Distance Aviation Learning Course (DLAC), which is required training by NWS policy, and the NWS Aviation Professional Development Series (PDS) which will fill the identified gap in low-level turbulence forecasting training. Target completion date for this training update is September 2021.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in other modes of transportation—railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline. We determine the probable cause of the accidents and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents. In addition, we carry out special studies concerning transportation safety and coordinate the resources of the federal government and other organizations to provide assistance to victims and their family members affected by major transportation disasters.

On August 2, 2018, the NTSB adopted its safety recommendation report, “Guidance on the Issuance of Turbulence Products and Training for Low-Level Turbulence Identification and Forecasting for National Weather Service Forecasters” (ASR-18/03). The details of the related accident investigation and the resulting safety recommendations may be found in the attached report, which can also be accessed at http://www.ntsb.gov.

Two safety recommendations are issued to the National Weather Service, which can be found on page 6 of the report.

The NTSB is vitally interested in these recommendations because they are designed to prevent accidents and save lives. We would appreciate a response within 90 days, detailing the actions you have taken or intend to take to implement the recommendations. When replying, please refer to the safety recommendations by number. We encourage you to submit your response to correspondence@ntsb.gov. If it exceeds 20 megabytes, including attachments, please e-mail us at the same address for instructions. Please do not submit both an electronic copy and a hard copy of the same response.