Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Systems Development Branch, ASU-350, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20591

A -- AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH OCEANIC CONVECTIVE WEATHER SOL REF: FAACO 1218 POC Wilma Washington 202-493-0035 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via, Wilma.Washington@faa.gov. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP) is focused on the research and development of weather products that will improve the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI), is to gain information on the capabilities and experience of organizations that can be applied to formulating and effecting a research plan for developing forecast products to alleviate the adverse impact of oceanic convective weather on the NAS. Weather is the principal cause of disruptions in air traffic flow, and of all weather phenomena, convective weather, such as thunderstorm activity, causes the greatest impact. The FAA has air traffic control responsibilities not only for U.S. airspace, but also for broad areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The most important data sources for dealing with convective weather are land-based, and are degraded or absent in oceanic airspace. Weather radar is the most important tool for detection and short term forecast of convective weather, however, its reach into oceanic areas is limited to about 200 miles from its land based antenna. Other aids include the National Lightning Detection System and surface-based weather observations, which provide their best coverage over land. Furthermore, numerical modeling of convective weather requires observations from the ground and from weather balloons, both of which are sparse in oceanic areas. Only satellite data are unhindered by continental boundaries. The FAA's Aviation Weather Research Program seeks information on projects which might be appropriate for an FAA investment for applied weather research into methods of accurately detecting and providing 0 to 6 hour forecasts of oceanic convective weather which affects airspace under FAA control. The duration of the project is not yet determined. When the development effort is completed, the FAA plans to test the product in an operational environment. Interested sources may contact, by mail, Contracting Officer, Federal Aviation Administration (ASU-350), Ms. Wilma Washington, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591. Questions or requests for clarifying information should be forwarded not later than October 6, 2000. All questions, and our answers will be provided to all sources who have responded to this announcement. Questions may be sent by mail to the address above, or they may be faxed to (202) 366-7039, or e-mailed to wilma.washington@faa.gov. All responses to this announcement should be submitted by October 20, 2000. Sources will not be reimbursed for providing responses; therefore FAA will accept them in whatever form they exist. Responses will not be considered as proposals and this announcement should not be construed as a request for proposal. Proprietary data submitted in response to this announcement will be protected when so designated. Responses should include the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to discuss responses with government representatives. This notice is the same as the one currently on the FAA's web site under reference number FAACO 1218. The response date for the notice on the FAA's web site is being extended to coincide with this notice. Interested personnel may respond to either notice. Posted 08/28/00 (W-SN490691). (0241)

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