NBAA-BACE Weather Sessions Seek User Input to Define Future Needs, Technology

Sept. 7, 2018

Weather information researchers, developers and providers are eager to learn from pilots, dispatchers and others who need access to the most up-to-date weather technology to operate, at the 2018 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).

“They seek input about the users’ short- and long-term weather issues,” said John Kosak, weather program manager for NBAA Air Traffic Services. “Those who rely on weather information should not miss this opportunity to help shape future tools and define the scope of these important topics.”

The discussion begins with a session on Advanced Weather Technology at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16. In addition to questions about participants’ use of aviation weather, the session will provide an overview on a number of FAA research projects and weather-related advances being developed by the FAA’s Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) and Aviation Weather Research Program, said Gary Pokodner, WTIC program manager.

Session leaders also will demonstrate several innovative new products including WeatherXplore, “an augmented reality application that WTIC developed to use as a reference guide, training aid, and potentially the format for a new FAA weather handbook,” said Pokodner.

Also at NBAA-BACE, the Friends & Partners in Aviation Weather sessions take place in four segments over two days: 1-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, said Kosak.

The Oct. 17 sessions will be dedicated to a roundtable on pilot weather information. The panelists in this session are seeking input from business aviation pilots about the utility of aviation weather products and any gaps they see in the information those products convey. The session also will address notifications to and from pilots, weather information human factors and training. The Oct. 18 day-long session will be split into three segments: aircraft-based observations, assessments of weather forecasts and weather information modernization and transition: NextGen weather.

The discussion will also include “the key performance indicators and metrics they track,” said Kosak, “as well as insight into what actions they take based on these assessments.”

View the full NBAA-BACE program schedule.