Per Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) § 44720, Meteorological Services, the FAA establishes all requirements for aviation weather reports and forecasts.

The FAA provides a wide range of services to the aviation community. The following sections provide a description of those FAA facilities that are involved with aviation weather and pilot services.

The air traffic control systems command center (ATCSCC) has the mission of balancing air traffic demand with system capacity. This ensures maximum safety and efficiency for the NAS, while minimizing delays. The ATCSCC utilizes the Traffic Management System (TMS), aircraft situation displays, monitor alert, follow-on functions, and direct contact with ARTCC and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility Traffic Management Units (TMU) to manage flow on a national level.

Because weather is the most common reason for air traffic delays and rerouting, NWS meteorologists support the ATCSCC. These meteorologists, called National Aviation Meteorologists, coordinate NWS operations in support of traffic flow management within the NAS.

An ARTCC is a facility established to provide air traffic control (ATC) service to pilots operating on instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plans within controlled airspace, principally during the en route phase of flight. When equipment capabilities and controller workload permit, certain advisory/assistance services may be provided to pilots operating under visual flight rules (VFR).

En route controllers become familiar with pertinent weather information and stay aware of current weather information needed to perform ATC duties. En route controllers advise pilots of hazardous weather that may impact operations within 150 nautical miles (NM) of the controller’s assigned sector or jurisdiction and may solicit Pilot Weather Reports (PIREP) from pilots.

An airport traffic control tower (ATCT) is a terminal facility that uses air-to-ground communications, visual signaling, and other devices to provide ATC services to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an airport or on the movement area.

Terminal controllers become familiar with pertinent weather information and stay aware of current weather information needed to perform ATC duties. Terminal controllers advise pilots of hazardous weather that may impact operations within 150 NM of the controller’s assigned sector or area of jurisdiction and may solicit PIREPs from pilots. ATCTs and TRACONs may opt to broadcast hazardous weather information alerts only when any part of the area described is within 50 NM of the airspace under the ATCT’s jurisdiction.

The FAA delivers flight services to pilots in the CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. For pilots in the CONUS, services are available by phone at 1-800-WX-BRIEF (1-800-992-7433). For pilots in Alaska call 1-833-AK-BRIEF (1-833-252-7433). Services include, but are not limited to, pre-flight weather briefings, flight planning, and in-flight advisory services.

Flight Service also delivers the FAA’s Aviation Weather Camera Network. It features an expanding network of camera sites in Alaska, Hawaii, and the CONUS. Weather cameras provide pilots in certain areas with snapshots of current conditions at a specific location, enabling pilots to have additional information for improved decision making. Services may be obtained by visiting the Aviation Weather Cameras website (found in Appendix G). See Section 3.3.3.2 and Section 24.9 for additional information.

The DOD is a key partner with the FAA and NWS in the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) program. Various branches of the DOD provide their own weather support, but this is beyond the scope of this handbook.

Commercial weather information providers are a major source of weather products for the aviation community. In general, they produce proprietary weather products based on NWS information with formatting and layout modifications but no material changes to the weather information itself. This is also referred to as “repackaging.”

Commercial providers also produce forecasts, analyses, and other proprietary weather products that may substantially differ from the information contained in NWS-produced products. Operators who desire to use products prepared by a commercial weather provider should consult the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Chapter 7, Section 1, Paragraph 7-1-3, Use of Aviation Weather Products, which provides additional information pertaining to commercial providers, including the Enhanced Weather Information System (EWINS).