A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/592965
SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT WEATHER : Matt Tucker (ZTL) is NATCA's Article 48 Represe ntative for all Weather issues. Mr. Tucker's report to the membership is below. · Administrators' TOP 5 o Attended the first meeting for the TOP 5, the focus for this meeting was the loss of long range r adar weather in the terminals that use LRR to make up for airspace outside of standard ASR coverage. This stems from the ATSAP CAR about P50 TRACON and the Northern Arizona Airspace. In addition the team also is addressing the lack of weather radar in the enroute airspace outside of standard NEXRAD Coverage, this also st ems from an ATSAP CAR from ZMA. o This meeting was conducted using the SRM process and a Hazard Assessment Worksheet was started to cover the hazards that came out of the meeting. Discussi ons were focused on the use of the NEXRAD precipitation Mosaic to augment STARS/TAMR Weather display. A lot of focus was also on the CARSR upgrades and the ability to optimize and v alidate the weather capability. o The Miami Center weather issue is being address in the research community right now in the Offshore Precipitation Capability (OPC) project being conducted by MIT/LL. · Met with Tom Skiles (ATO Director of Air Traffic Operations ) to discuss contract weather and facilities that will be tran sitioned to LAWRS, more in a follow up email coming. Also talked about the PIREP/METAR entry into AISR and the operational priority clause of the 7110.65. Temporary Operational Contingency Office (TOCO): Tammy Norman (ZTL) is the TOCO Article 48 Represen tative. This is a one - year detail at the Eastern Service Center to work on this project. Ms. Norman's report for this week is below. · Tech Center Meetings: October 20 - 22, the TOCO had the final divestiture mee tings with the western ARTCCs. o The meetings were successful and all facilities have a divestment of airspace agreement signed. o The Technical Worksheets will continue to be worked with the facility contingency teams and their local tech ops. The completion of these worksheets will suppl y detailed information to write their requirements to meet divestiture agreements to achieve administra tor's goals in ATC Zero events. Divestment plans are based on what capabilities the facility has on hand, currently. o The Technical Worksheets shall b e completed and submitted to the TOCO by October the 30 th . o Divestiture plans and requirements shall be in the POFMs' KSN site for review by the TOCO's sponsors by November 17 th . o Operational Contingency Plans (OCPs) with divestment of airspace shall be due after the effective date of the 1900.47E. There are expectations a November publication date and an early December effective date. · ISSUES: