FAA Role in Cockpit Weather Data Link Applications

1. FAA Role in Cockpit Weather Data Link Applications OFCM User Forum Cockpit Display Panel July 26, 2000 Sandra Schmidt FAA/ARW-100

2. Overview • Initiatives • Display Considerations • FAA Role • Where are we • FAA Review Process • FISDL (ARNAV) examples • What’s ahead - challenges • Questions

3. Initiatives • 1998 - Flight Information Services Policy • Provide Textual and Graphical Weather to Cockpit • Supports Service Areas 3,4,5,6,7, and 8 • 1999 - Government/Industry Partnership • ARNAV/Honeywell • 2000 - Initial Operational Capability Demonstration • Initial products • Nexrad, METAR, CATMET,

4. Display Considerations A picture = 1000 words … if • Cockpit displays open door for improved safety and flight efficiency by providing “Big Picture” • Allows pilots to make early decisions for avoidance, diversion or flight cancellation, if • Pilots know and understand the quality and limitations of the cockpit weather products • Thus need User Education and Training, Guidance for Operational Use • Training especially important with direct access to data • Need to know both what the data is and what the data is not

5. Display Considerations (Con’t) • Cockpit Displays open door for improved communications between pilots and Flight Service, Air Traffic, and/or Dispatch, if • All are working from products derived from same/consistent data sources (data/information parity) • All understand and use common methods for displaying and describing products • Thus, Need Standards

6. FAA Role • Standards - for cockpit processing and display • Need to consider and be consistent with all other NAS weather applications (ground and cockpit) • Guidelines/Authority for Operational Use • Need to consider advances and new technologies in both weather observing and forecasting • Training and Education • Need to consider ALL NAS users • Pilots • Controllers and Specialists • Dispatchers

7. Where Are We • Standards • RTCA SC-195: FAA/Industry consensus on display standards in draft FIS-B MASPS • FAA process for reviewing/accepting FISDL cockpit displays • Guidelines/Authority for Operational Use • AIM, Section 7 (FISDL description) published • Advisory Circulars drafted (Flt Standards and Aircraft Cert) • Limits use to strategic planning (weather avoidance) • Training and Education • AIM, Section 7 (FISDL description) published • Brochures distributed at Sun ‘N Fun and Oshkosh

8. FAA Review Process • Key items considered: • Is the product applicable for aviation use? • Is the product based on approved aviation weather sources? • Was the product “professionally” developed including aviation meteorologists, especially if a forecast product? • Is the display compliant with applicable standards (i.e., RTCA, SAE, ICAO)? • Are minimum display elements intuitive and easy to interpret

9. FAA Review Process (Con’t) • Key items considered (Con’t): • Could display cause pilot misunderstanding due to: • Complexity, • Non-standard use of colors, labels • Incorrect overlay with other displays • Are education and training materials sufficient to enable effective use of new product? • Does FISDL Service Provide quality assurance process include product monitoring and capability to discover and correct deficiencies?

10. FISDL Examples - ARNAV Regional NEXRAD

11. FISDL Examples - ARNAV 200 Nautical Mile NEXRAD

12. FISDL Examples - ARNAV Full Text METAR Report

13. What’s Ahead - Challenges • Cockpit Workload and Human Factors Studies • Simulations and Flight Evaluations • NASA AWIN • FAA CAPSTONE and Safe Flight 21 • Data Applications and Operational Assessments • E-PIREP/GA Automet (downlink and crosslink) • Tactical versus Strategic Uses