[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70293-70294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29453]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


User Input on the Use of the Current Icing Potential (CIP) 
Weather Product

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of public meeting

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SUMMARY: The FAA will hold an informal public meeting to seek aviation 
weather user input. Details: December 18, 2002; Federal Aviation 
Administration, 1575 ``Eye'' Street, Washington, DC.; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
in the 9th Floor Conference Room. The objective of this meeting is to 
provide an opportunity for interested aviation weather users to discuss 
the use of the Current Icing Potential (CIP) product and provide input 
to FAA's plans for implementing this new weather product.

DATES: The meeting will be held in the 9th Floor Conference Room, 1575 
``Eye'' Street, Washington, DC Times: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on December 18, 
2002.

[[Page 70294]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Albersheim, Aerospace Weather 
Policy Division, ARS-100, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone number (202) 
385-7704; FAX: (202) 385-7701; e-mail: [email protected]. 
Internet address: http:\\www.[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History

    On December 11, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration's 
Aviation Weather Technology transfer (AWTT) Board approved the Current 
Icing Potential (CIP) for operational use. The CIP became operational 
in April 2002 for use by aviation meteorologists and airline operations 
center dispatchers who are trained on the use of the product. The CIP 
provides a graphical display of icing potential or the likelihood of 
icing in atmosphere. Further it allows users to obtain a visual 
portrayal of icing potential at different flight levels. The CIP does 
not indicate the severity of icing.
    It is the intent of the FAA to allow all aviation users of the 
National Airspace System (NAS) to have access to this product. However, 
because the CIP cannot provide all the information that is currently 
contained in existing approved products as the AIRMET and SIGMET, 
limitations on its use have been stipulated.
    The purpose of the proposed user meeting is to discuss needed 
changes in CIP to enable its use by pilots. The existing product uses 
input from satellite imagery and data, radar, surface observations, 
numerical models, and pilot weather reports to provide a three-
dimensional diagnosis of hourly potential of icing and super cooled 
large droplets (SLD). Issues that need to be resolved for pilots is how 
this product in its planned future versions can be used in the 
following decisions: route/altitude selection, go-no go decisions, 
escape decisions, in-flight route changes, hazardous weather deviation, 
and landing decisions. It is important that pilots understand the 
attributes of the CIP and how it can be applicable in support of these 
various applications or decisions. This user meeting will begin the 
process to further evaluate how an improved CIP can be used to support 
these decisions. The meeting will be conducted in two parts

Meeting Procedures

    (a) The meeting will be informal in nature and will be conducted by 
representatives of the FAA Headquarters.
    (b) The meeting will be open to all persons on a space-available 
basis. Every effort was made to provide a meeting site with sufficient 
seating capacity for the expected participation. There will be neither 
admission fee nor other charge to attend and participate.
    (c) FAA personnel present will conduct a briefing on the AWTT 
process and the history of the approval of this product. Any person 
will be allowed to ask questions during the presentation and FAA 
personnel will clarify any part of the presentation that is not clear.
    (d) FAA personnel will present a briefing on the physical 
attributes of the product and how the information is processed to 
provide a three-dimensional analysis of conventional and SLD icing 
potential in space and time. Any person will be allowed to ask 
questions during the presentation and FAA personnel will clarify any 
part of the presentation that is not clear
    (e) FAA personnel will lead a discussion on issues that relate to 
what improvements are required in the next version of CIP to allow 
pilots to use this product in the applications listed above. Specific 
issues include: the validity period of the product and how icing 
severity can be linked with icing potential. Any person present may 
participate in the discussion.
    (f) An official verbatim transcript or minutes of the informal 
meeting will not be made. However, a list of the attendees and a digest 
of discussions during the meeting will be produced. Any person 
attending may receive a copy of the written information upon request to 
the information contact, above.
    (g) Every reasonable effort will be made to hear each person's 
feedback consistent with a reasonable closing time for the meeting. 
Written feedback may also be submitted to FAA personnel for up to seven 
(7) days after the close of the meeting.

Agenda

    (a) Opening Remarks and Discussion of Meeting Procedures.
    (b) Briefing on AWTT Process history of the approval of this 
product.
    (c) Briefing on the physical attributes of the product and 
information processing.
    (d) Discussion on improvement issues for future versions of CIP.
    (e) Closing Comments.

    Issued In Washington, D.C. on November 21, 2002.
David Whatley,
Director, Aerospace Weather Policy and Standards Staff.
[FR Doc. 02-29453 Filed 11-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M