1. Configuring Flight Category Monitoring in AvnWatch
|
ID |
Procedure |
Expected
Result |
|
1 |
Please start the AvnFPS Configuration GUI via the AWIPS/AvnFPS root menu by selecting the 'Configuration GUI' option. |
The AvnFPS setup GUI appears |
|
2 |
Start the AvnFPS text
editor by pressing the 'Text Editor' button. |
AvnFPS text editor appears |
|
3 |
By default, the contents of
the /awips/adapt/avnfps/etc/ directory is shown. Select the gui.cfg
file for editing by selecting the 'Open' button above the editor window, select the gui.cfg file 'icon', and then press
the 'Open' button on the dialog. |
Contents of gui.cfg file appears in the editor |
|
4 |
Moving the
cursor position to the '[monitor_metar]' section, append the keyword
'cat' to the items and labels list. You may find it convenient to
collect the 'cig', 'vis' and 'cat' indicators together for easier
comparison. |
Original: [monitor_metar] menu=METAR module=MetarMonitor items=tempo,wind,wx,sky,vsby labels=tpo,wnd,wx,cig,vis
Changed (in red)
to: [monitor_metar] menu=METAR module=MetarMonitor items=tempo,wind,wx,sky,vsby,cat labels=tpo,wnd,wx,cig,vis,cat
|
|
5 |
Save your changes to the file by pressing the 'Save' button on the text editor. |
File successfully saved. |
|
6 |
Returning
back to the AvnFPS Setup GUI, click on the 'Monitoring Rules' button to
start the Rule Editor. By default the
monitoring rules for 'mtrs' should be shown as indicated here ('mtrs'
tab is selected to
the foreground) |
List of
monitoring rules for METARs is shown as in the example below:
|
|
7 |
Using the scroll bar on the
RHS, see if 'FltCatDelta' is already listed as one of the methods to be
used (as it is shown here). If not
present, go to the 'Available methods' section and click on the button
labelled 'FltCatDelta' to load it into the Rule Editor, as shown. (If already present, skip to #9) |
|
|
8 |
Click on the Rule Editor
'Add' button to include FltCatDelta monitoring to the list. |
Rule 'FltCatDelta' appears
at the bottom of the list of rules to use for monitoring surface
observations |
|
9 |
Close the
Monitoring Rule editor by clicking on the 'Close' button. |
GUI
disappears |
|
10 |
Start
AvnMenu via the AWIPS/AvnFPS root menu by selecting the 'Monitoring
GUI' option. |
AvnMenu
appears |
|
11 |
Select a
forecaster name using the mouse and then start AvnWatch by selecting
the 'TAFs' button |
AvnWatch
appears with the new 'cat' indicator appearing on the Main GUI under
the 'metar' column |
At this point, AvnWatch will now apply 'rules' to monitor TAF and METAR ceiling and visibility separately ('cig','vis' indicators) as before, and jointly ('cat' indicator).
The following scenarios the following combinations of indicator lights can occur on the AvnWatch GUI:
| Indicator
Lights |
Meaning |
 |
 In this case, the observation has MVFR conditions for ceiling height, but the forecast has IFR condition, and thus off by one category (yellow alert) |
 |
 In this case, the observation has IFR ceiling but with a forecast of VFR ceiling, thus TAF is off by two categories (orange alert). |
 |
 Similar situation as the first one, but forecast is off by 3 categories resulting in 'red alert' indicators for both ceiling and flight category. |
 |
 In this case, the light green color for the flight category indicator shows a discreptancy between either ceiling or visibility category. But a TAF amendment isn't required, since, in this case, VLIFR ceiling is observed and being forecasted. |
This is not an exhaustive listing of various combinations that can occur. Forecasters should examine these indicators, TAFs and METARs carefully for accuracy and report any conditions which they believe is in error. Your feedback is important for the success of flight category monitoring in AvnFPS.