SrA Jinny Liechti

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Air Force Aviation Weather A Case Study

• SrA Jinny Liechti
• 26th Operational Weather Squadron

Approved for Public Release - Distribution
Unlimited
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Flight Weather Briefings

• FWBs are executable forecasts for the flying
  community
• Incorrect FWBs can result in
• Loss of life
• Loss of valuable military resources
• It is imperative for all FWBs to be completed
  timely and correctly

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Manning at the 26th

• 7 Airmen in the 26th permanently assigned to the
  FWB section
• 5 Airmen in the 26th temporarily assigned to the
  FWB section rotating as often as every month
• Mon-Fri
• 0400L-1200L 7 Airmen on duty
• 1200L-1500L 3 Airmen on duty
• 1500L-0400L 1 Airman on duty
• Sat-Sun
• 0400L-1200L 2 Airmen on duty
• 1200L-1500L 2 Airmen on duty
• 1500L-0400L 1 Airman on duty

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WBMT
Call Sign
Takeoff Location
Destination(s)
Completed by forecaster
Completed by forecaster checked by briefing
manager
Additional info added that briefing manager
should be aware of
Published
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Part I Takeoff Data
General takeoff weather including hazards that
will affect takeoff and climb
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Part II Enroute Mission Data
Enroute data including FL winds, clouds and
general hazards w/in 5,000ft of FL
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Part III Aerodrome Forecasts
Destination/Alternate arrival weather including
winds, weather and clouds
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Part IV Comments/Remarks
26 OWS included for updates, PMSV(s) enroute,
and indicates attachments
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Part V Briefing Record
Brief and void times, forecaster and briefing
managers initials, mission ID
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Common Attachments

• Requested Charts
• Hazards
• FL winds
• Military Operating Area (MOA)
• Drop Zone
• Air Refueling Track (AR Track)
• Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR) Route Forecast
• Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Route Forecast

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Flimsy
General weather for a location and time frame
used by up to 12 flights per day
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Daily Averages
Total Flight Weather Briefs 45 Flimsies
(Mon-Fri) 35 Flimsies (Sat-Sun) 25
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Annual Totals by Month
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Special Support

• Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC)
• Search and rescue missions
• Missing person(s)
• Medical evacuations
• Missing aircraft
• Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC)
• Extra briefings to aid training purposes
• RAID Oklahoma Army National Guard
• Briefings completed to support drug interdiction
• Call sign Hookmaster briefings departing KRBD
• Supports medical evacuations transports

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Impacts to Operations

• Weather sensitivities (varying depending on
  acft)
• Thunderstorms/Lightning
• Turbulence
• Icing
• Crosswinds
• Gusting surface winds
• In-flight refueling visibility

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Information Sources

• National Weather Service
• Aviation Weather Center (AWC)
• Storm Prediction Center (SPC)
• Sea State Data
• Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS)
• Pilot Report (PIREP) / Aircraft Report (AIREP)
• JAAWIN
• Out of AOR TAFS/OBS
• Contrails for flimsies
• Lightning
• 26th OWS Homepage
• Model Data
• Hazard Forecasts
• Satellite/Radar

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Questions?