INTERNATIONAL

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2008 INTERNATIONAL AIRFIELD OPERATIONAL
AREA EXPO CONFERENCE MILWAUKEE, WI JUNE 3,
2008
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AUTOMATED WEATHER OPSERVATION SYSTEM
(AWOS) NATIONAL AIRSPACE DATA INTERCHANGE
NETWORK (NADIN)
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Federal and Non-Federal AWOS

• Two classifications of AWOS, Fed and Non-Fed
• Under the Fed designation there are 3 different
  types
• Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS)
• Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS)
• Automated Weather Sensor System (AWSS)
• Federal designation implies that the equipment
  is provided by the FAA, installed by the FAA and
  maintained by the FAA.
• All of the Federal weather systems are connected
  to the national network or NADIN and the
  communication cost is paid for by the FEDS.

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Federal and Non-Federal AWOS

• Two classifications of AWOS, Fed and Non-Fed
• Under the Non-Fed designation there is only the
  AWOS
• Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS)
• Non-Federal designation implies that the
  equipment (that is FAA certified) is purchased,
  installed, and maintained by the airport or
  heliport.
• The FAA will help with the purchase and
  installation of an FAA AWOS through the Airport
  Improvement Program (AIP). But the ongoing
  maintenance is the owners responsibility.
• A Non-Fed AWOS is not automatically connected to
  the FAAs national network (NADIN)

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AWOS Categories

• AWOS A Altimeter Reporting
• AWOS I Alt./Temp/RH/Winds
• AWOS II Adds Visibility to AWOS I
• AWOS III Adds Cloud Height to AWOS II.
• AWOS IIIP Adds Present Weather Sensor to AWOS
  III
• AWOS IIIP/T Adds Thunderstorm Sensor to AWOS
  IIIP.
• AWOS IV Adds Runway Surface Temp Freezing
  Rain sensor to above.
• AWOS AV Has all the sensors of an AWOS II or
  III with only the Alt Vis FAA certified.

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AWOS Manufactures

• There are four (4) manufactures of FAA certified
  AWOS
• Two companies that manufacture AWOS III and
  higher
• All Weather Inc, Sacramento, CA
  www.allweatherinc.com
• Vaisala Oy, Boulder, CA www.vaisala.com
• Two companies that manufacture AWOS AV
• Belfort Instrument Co., Baltimore,
  MD www.belfortinstrument.com
• Potomac Aviation, Ft. Washington,
  MD www.superawos.com

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NATIONAL AIRSPACE DATA INTERCHANGE NETWORK (NADIN)
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National Airspace Data Interchange Network
(NADIN) II
The Weather Reports (METARs) generated by a
Non-Fed AWOS can only be distributed over the
NADIN using an FAA approved third party vendor.
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Third Party NADIN Connection Companies

• There are three(3) companies certified by the FAA
  to connect a Non-Fed AWOS into the NADIN.
• AnyAwos, Lansing, MI www.anyawos.com
• RSI, Millington, TN www.remotesys.com
• Vaisala Oy, Boulder, CA www.vaisala.com

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Belfort Instrument 125 Years of Excellence
Leading provider of environmental measurement
solutions to the meteorological, highway safety,
and optical sensor markets Baltimore, MD 43
BusinessHeadquarters Employees
2005 DigiWx AWOS approval for Part 135 operations
1995-1997 Product line acquisitions - highway
safety optical measurement capabilities
1876 Belfort Instrument Co. founded by Julien
Freiz
1903 Belfort supplies wind sensors for Wright
Brothers use
2007 Belfort RVR
1896 Belfort Observatory in Baltimore founded
1991 Awarded ASOS contract for 1300 wind
visibility systems
2000 DigiWx launched, patents filed/issued on
core technology
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Belforts Legacy