PARTNERS @ Solberg - A Safer Airport - Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS)

One of the improvements scheduled to be installed at Solberg Airport is an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS). This should contribute significantly to the safety of general aviation in this part of the country.

What is AWOS?

An Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) is a commercial, off-the-shelf system that is currently being installed at some 200 sites across the country and Alaska. It is an array of sensors and communication ports, that provides automatic, accurate, and continuous weather information.

AWOS is engineered to measure, collect, and disseminate weather data to help meteorologists, pilots, and flight dispatchers prepare and monitor weather forecasts, plan flight routes, and provide necessary information for correct takeoffs and landings.

AWOS sites provide minute-to-minute updates of weather parameters, such as wind speed and direction, temperature and dew point, visibility, cloud heights and types, precipitation, and barometric pressure.

AWOS does not predict weather, but does send current information to weather offices, where forecasts are produced using this information along with computer model outputs, satellite photos, radar images, etc.

Every hour on the hour, the AWOS data is made available to off-site users via telephone communication or satellite uplink. The aviation community is the major user of AWOS information.

How do pilots use AWOS?

Ongoing, continuous local weather status can be accessed by pilots before departure by telephoning the nearest AWOS site, or by monitoring a discrete VHF frequency between 118 mHz and 136 mHz, or a navigational-aid voice channel as a voice message. The basic AWOS sensors provide wind speed and direction, temperature, dew point, pressure (altimeter setting), visibility, and cloud height and type information.

For more information about AWOS, visit the FAA's Automated Weather Sensors Web Site.

Top of page

STOP the CONDEMNATION of PRIVATE PROPERTY!

If you are interested in joining PARTNERS @ Solberg or are interested in helping us educate and inform area residents about the benefits of general aviation, please contact us for information about joining our group that is dedicated to finding effective reasonable solutions!

Top of page