Page 19 - AFMAN 15-111, 12 MAR 2019

AFMAN15-111 12 MARCH 2019 19

Chapter 4

GENERAL OBSERVING INFORMATION

4.1. General. This chapter contains general procedures pertaining to all AF weather
organizations responsible for producing surface weather observations.

4.2. FBWOS. The following requirements apply to all primary meteorological equipment used
in the generation of surface weather observations at both automated and manual weather observing
locations.

4.2.1. FBWOSs operate in automated mode at AF and Army controlled airfields to provide
the official METAR and SPECI observations with augmentation when required.
4.2.2. Siting and Exposure. As best as practical, FBWOS sensor groups are sited IAW the
FCM-S4-1994, Federal Standard for Siting Meteorological Sensors at Airports. Previously
installed sensors may be operated at their present locations; however, if they are relocated,
siting will be IAW the federal standard. (T-1).

4.2.3. FBWOSs procured for operation on AF and Army locations must be certified as
conforming with the station certification requirements contained in FCM-H1 as part of an
operational evaluation and a fielding decision. Each site will conform to the site acceptance
procedures and commission their FBWOS. (T-1).
4.2.3.1. At locations with assigned AF weather personnel, site acceptance and
commissioning will be accomplished by the host-installation AF weather organization.

4.2.3.2. At locations with an AF-owned FBWOS, but no AF weather personnel assigned,
site acceptance and commissioning will be accomplished by AF personnel, using host
service or agency (e.g., Army, FAA) procedures, to substitute for unmet AF training and/or
documentation requirements.
4.2.4. AN/TMQ-53s are used for tactical airfields, or as long-term backup (72-hours or
greater) for fixed meteorological sensors (when sited appropriately) at AF and Army controlled
airfields. AN/TMQ-53s will not be used as standalone weather sensors outside the local
aerodrome, without prior approval from their parent MAJCOM. (T-1).

4.2.5. MAJCOMs must approve the use of FBWOS at locations other than controlled airfields
(or local aerodromes).

4.2.6. In the automated mode, the FBWOS system continually senses, reports and measures
the atmosphere for the following weather elements: wind speed and direction, visibility,
thunderstorms, precipitation, obscurations to visibility, sky cover, cloud height, temperature,
dew point and altimeter setting on all observations.

4.2.7. Locations with an FBWOS installed IAW section 4.4 below, are always designated as
automated locations, even during periods of time when a weather technician augments an
observation.

4.3. Automated Dissemination System (ADS). Any AF, Army, or National Weather Service
accredited system capable of disseminating observations for use by operational customers is an
ADS. At the majority of AF Weather operating locations the primary ADS is the Joint
Environmental Toolkit (JET) platform.