EWINS - Enhanced WX

Question 0

What products are available in EWINS

Answer 0

1. FPG and SIGMETs.
2. Turbulence advisories
3. TAFs
4. Tropical weather forecasts
5. Load planning temperature forecasts
6. Area weather discussions
7. Dispatcher, SOC manager, Airport manager, Flight crew individual, and system briefings or telecons around any of the above information.

Question 1

What is EWINS?

Answer 1

The authorized use of external sources for the gathering of weather and other informational data to get aircraft operational.

Question 2

What are Primary Weather Products?

Answer 2

1. Weather reports and forecasts prepared by the National Weather Service (NWS) or a source approved by the NWS.
2. Weather reports and forecasts prepared by FAA-approved adverse weather phenomena reporting and forecast system.
3. Weather reports and forecasts issued by an FAA-approved EWINS.

Question 3

What are supplementary weather products?

Answer 3

Supplementary information is to be used to improve operational and situational awareness.

1. Experimental weather reporting or forecasting tools or systems.
2. Weather information obtained outside of the airlines system and/or procedures for obtaining weather information (e.g. via t.v., public radio, or personal handheld device).

Question 4

What is ‘repackaged weather’?

Answer 4

This is retransmission of weather information provided by the NWS, a source approved by the NWS, or a source approved by the Administrator, such as a member of the WMO. A CWIP may reformat a text or graphical report or forecast without making any material changes to the weather information.

Question 5

What are some conditions and limitations when using EWINS?

Answer 5

1. Al terminal forecasts (TAF) provided by WSI are considered controlling and supersede any approved government issued TAF when both are present for a destination or alternate airport.
2. All adverse weather forecast in the form of Flight Plan Guidance (FPG) and SIGMETs provided by WSI are considered controlling and supersede any like weather forecast products produced by approved government sources of the same type.

Question 6

What are WSI level I - scheduled TAFs?

Answer 6

Regular scheduled TAFs. Service includes up to two phone briefings for each airport per days as needed. Level I TAFs are monitored until the next scheduled TAF release or for up to 12 hours after issuance, whichever comes first.

Question 7

What are WSI level III - ad hoc TAFs?

Answer 7

WSI shall issue level III TAFs on an as needed or ad hoc basis whenever a customer requires an alternative viewpoint relative to the government TAFs or a government TAF is missing.

Question 8

TAF amendment criteria

Answer 8

1. winter precipitation or thunderstorm activity was unforecasted or it begins or ends prematurely.
2. wind direction change by 90 degrees or more for wind speeds greater than 15 knots.
3. wind speed change by 10 knots or more when above 15 knots.
4. visibility and ceiling categories.

Question 9

What is a SIGMET?

Answer 9

This is issued for a developing and/or on-going hazardous aviation weather event.

Question 10

What are normal communication methods?

Answer 10

Primary - Company phone and ACARS

Alternate - cell phone, remarks on dispatch release, and/or station relay.

Question 11

What is ACARS?

Answer 11

A - AIRINC
C - Communications
A - Addressing and
R - Reporting 
S - System

Question 12

Can a WSI product be used in the application of exemption 3585?

Answer 12

NO

Question 13

How far is vicinity (VC) at an airport?

Answer 13

5 SM to 25 SM from airport

Question 14

What are conditional statements in TAFs?

Answer 14

TEMPO, PROB, AND BCMG