Baseline Assessment of the Use of Weather Information in Airline Systems Operations Centers
Abstract
A study was conducted to establish current (baseline) practices in the use of weather information at Airline Operations Centers (AOCs). Two large airlines with substantial international service, one smaller airline with national service, and a small regional airline were included in the study. Dispatchers were interviewed at each airline and asked to assign priorities to listed weather factors. Responses were similar across airlines, but dispatchers from the larger long-haul airlines gave somewhat higher priorities to some of the Wind factors. There were numerous differences between the priorities assigned by dispatchers and those assigned by pilots, especially during the planning phase, with small but consistent internal differences in ratings among pilots between Part 91 pilots and Part 121 pilots. The operators interviewed all expected to continue using dispatchers and weather personnel in the AOCs as integrators and flight planners/followers, expecting that the increased networking and availability of new sources of weather data envisioned in the NextGen environment would enhance their ability to make more accurate assessments of operational issues. It was deemed critical that the NextGen environment continue to provide the information currently deemed central to allowing the dispatcher-pilot team to deal effectively with diversions. Several recommendations are included for improving the structure and functioning of the weather-information environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA566695
Entities
People
- Dennis B. Beringer
- Roger W. Schvaneveldt
- Russell J. Branaghan
Organizations
- Arizona State University