FAA and NOAA and, as research funding has decreased over the last few years, aviation weather research laboratories have had to tie themselves more closely to development programs for operational systems. Historically, basic research is the foundation upon which future development programs are based, and reductions in basic research tend to degrade the ability to develop new operational systems.

The Air Traffic Control Corporation Study reinforces the perception that the FAA does not adequately recognize the importance of weather to aviation safety and efficiency. For example, the 200-page report does not address weather-related issues associated with restructuring the FAA. In particular, the chapter on aviation safety discusses system capacity; separation of aircraft from each other; regulatory practices; and aircraft manufacturing, certification, and maintenance; however, it does not address aviation weather services. Establishing an air traffic services corporation is not necessarily inconsistent with the committee's recommendation for improving aviation weather services. However, it is important to consider aviation weather services and research as corporatization proposals are being structured and evaluated, rather than as they are being implemented.

Recommendation: The FAA should assess how proposals to establish a private or federal air traffic services corporation would impact aviation weather services and related research.

This report contains many recommendations for the FAA to improve aviation weather services and research. In general, implementation of these recommendations can proceed in parallel with the process of deciding whether to establish an air traffic services corporation. For example, as elaborated upon in Chapter 6, this report recommends that the FAA exert strong leadership in the planning and providing of aviation weather services. Implementation of this recommendation should be initiated immediately, even if the government anticipates establishing a federal or private air traffic services corporation. Enabling legislation for a new corporation, if one is established, should support this recommendation by focusing responsibility for aviation weather within one organization (i.e., either the new corporation or the residual FAA) and by clearly defining how the new corporation and the residual FAA would provide aviation weather services and conduct related research.

Recommendation: The FAA should expeditiously improve aviation weather services rather than delay action while the federal government decides whether to establish an air traffic services corporation to provide some or all of the functions currently provided by the FAA.

Department of Commerce Appropriations Act of 1963, as amended and incorporated into Title 68 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

DOT (Department of Transportation). 1994. Air Traffic Control Corporation Study—Report of the Executive Oversight Committee to the Department of Transportation. Washington, D.C.: DOT.

Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended and incorporated into Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

Memorandum of Agreement Between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the Establishment of Working Arrangements for Providing Aviation Weather Service and Meteorological Communications, January 24, 1977.

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended and incorporated into Title 42 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

NWS (National Weather Service). 1970. Message of President Roosevelt Regarding Reorganization Plan 4, June 30, 1940, in the National Weather Service Operations Manual. Washington, D.C.: NWS.

OMB (Office of Management and Budget) Circular A-62, November 13, 1963, and Department of Commerce Implementation Plan for Circular A-62, January 9, 1964.

Organic Act of 1890, as amended and incorporated into Title 15 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

Schlickenmaier, H. 1994. NASA Research and Technology Related to Aviation Weather. Presented to the National Aviation Weather Services Committee, at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado. October 18, 1994.

Weather Services Modernization Act, Public Law 102–567, Title VII, October 1992.

Wright, J. 1995. Personal communication from Julian M. Wright, Jr., Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, to Alan Angleman, May 19, 1995.

Front Matter (R1-R10)

Summary (1-8)

Chapter 1: Introduction (9-13)

Chapter 2: Current Roles and Missions (14-21)

Chapter 3: Current Services (22-40)

Chapter 4: Research and Development (41-47)

Chapter 5: Regional Requirements (48-51)

Chapter 6: Future Roles and Missions (52-60)

Chapter 7: The First Step (61-62)

Appendix A: Summary of Findings and Recommendations (63-68)

Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members (69-71)

Appendix C: Participants in Committee Meetings (72-73)

Appendix D: Reference Documents for Current Roles and Missions (74-81)

Appendix E: ASOS Assessment (82-85)

Appendix F: General Aviation Flight Scenarios—1994 and 2015 (86-89)

Appendix G: Federal Funding (90-92)

Appendix H: Research Documents and Organizations (93-95)

Appendix I: Detailed Assessment of User Needs in Alaska (96-106)

Appendix J: Alternative Approaches for Improving Aviation Weather Services and Research (107-109)