The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to be honest with the American public, its users and with Congress. "Hazardous weather is a leading cause of aviation accidents-with more than 100 general aviation fatalities per year due to weather—and providing weather information directly to the cockpit is seen as a key factor in helping reduce weather-related accidents." - FAA’s ARA NEWS Bulletin Board.

The National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS), who represents the Air Traffic Controllers working in Flight Service Stations (FSS), agrees totally! NAATS Controllers are highly trained specialists who analyze, interpret and relate complex weather data to pilots both before and during their flight.

The FAA is seriously limiting the ability of FSS’ to provide this service. The ranks of skilled weather briefers are steadily dwindling. (The number of controllers has shrunk from over 4000 to less than 2500.) Many FSS Controllers are already eligible to retire, yet the FAA refuses to hire more than a token number yearly. Increasingly, pilots, already airborne, must wait for critical information, because facilities are insufficiently staffed to meet demand. Controllers are forced to service aviation needs, of areas twice the size of Texas, single-handedly.

The FAA is trying to develop data links to "provide more weather data in the cockpit to enhance common situation awareness." While NAATS guardedly supports this technology, we caution pilots and the flying public against relying solely on a data stream when dealing with a complex issue as weather.

It takes time and effort to analyze and interpret changing weather patterns with sufficient depth to avoid hazardous conditions and/or pick appropriate alternative routes. While many pilots are able to do this, NAATS maintains that it distracts from concentrating on their primary duty of commanding the aircraft.

For information on the FAA’s plan for the future, visit
http://www.faa.gov/nasarchitecture/hilites/section3.htm