Summary of SOARS Objectives

1
Summary of SOARS Objectives

• Determine the Space Weather needs of Aviation
  industry
• Illustrate what a Space Weather service would
  look like

2
Summary of User Needs

• Service that is fully integrated with existing
  meteorological services
• Prior to flight
• Provision of alert sufficiently in advance to be
  used (2 hours)
• Modification to flight plans consistent with
  current changes
• Only certain changes are practical and cost
  effective
• En-Route
• Alerts that are reliable and meaningful
• Modification to flight plans that are meaningful
• ability to divert on oceanic routes can be
  limited
• exteremely difficult for mass exodus from the
  skies

3
Summary of User Needs
4
User Satisfaction

• Accurate forecasting of events could save money
• Need alert sufficiently in advance to be used
  (2-3 hours)
• Planned changes less costly than those that are
  unplanned
• Changes on shorter timescale can be expensive
• Diversions can cost several 10K
• Some responses to events limited by ATC
  practicalities
• Evaluation currently by discussion with key users
• Airlines, ATC

5
Sustainability

• Service needs to be implemented as service within
  existing terrestrial weather services
• Dissemination of information would be through
  them
• Ensures folded into "standard" forecasts/warnings
• Minimizes infrastructure costs - extra 0.5 FTE?
• Income
• Small charge to the airline(?) or by Government

6
Prospects for Improving of the Service

• SOARS is only demonstrating what a capability
  would look like