Page 20 - AFMAN 15-111, 12 MAR 2019

20 AFMAN15-111 12 MARCH 2019

4.4. FBWOS Certification Requirements.

4.4.1. FBWOS Commissioning Process. The process consists of four phases: installation,
acceptance, activation, and operational capability. Certification of the weather flights
concludes with the weather certification official declaring their weather flight is ready to
operate using the FBWOS and the designated commander declaring initial operating capability
(IOC). Commissioning occurs after all certification and commissioning requirements have
been met to include ensuring open write-ups are addressed and closed on the AFTO 747,
Cyberspace Infrastructure System Acceptance.
4.4.1.1. Installation. This phase includes all the activities at the site prior to the acceptance
phase (e.g., site preparation, hardware installation, checkout, and calibration). WFs/Dets
continue to use existing weather equipment to produce observations.
4.4.1.2. Acceptance. Acceptance testing, acceptance of the system from the contractor by
the acquisition agency, and turnover of the system from the acquisition agency to base or
post agencies.
4.4.1.3. Activation. Includes the act of placing the system into pre-operational use and
includes training and a determination of operational readiness.

4.4.1.4. Operational Capability. Consists of two declarations:
4.4.1.5. Declaration of IOC. The weather certification official attests the system is ready
for IOC and the WF/Det submits a memo recommending FBWOS be certified to operate
as the official observation for that location. The memo will be sent to leadership of
supported units, base operations, 14th Weather Squadron (WS) and the unit’s parent
MAJCOM. The designated commander for Air Force units’ is the OSS/CC or equivalent.
The designated commander for Army support units that fall under a WS is the WS/CC and
MAJCOM weather functional for Army support units that fall directly under that
command. The weather certification official must be sufficiently satisfied with system
performance, level of proficiency of flight personnel, and the maintenance support
capability to declare the assets operational and capable of performing the assigned mission.
IOC is based solely on the judgment of the commander, and will not be schedule-driven.
(T-1).
4.4.1.6. IOC signifies the weather flight has transformed from the existing system to the
newly installed automated system. From this point forward, the newly installed system will
generate the official surface weather observation. Units may declare portions of the system
IOC [i.e. temperature, pressure, wind; but may have issues with ceilometer]. Units doing
this identify which portions of data they are willing to use and which they will
backup/augment. (T-1).

4.4.1.7. Declaration of Full Operating Capability (FOC). The weather certification official
will declare FOC once all requirements for weather flight certification and system
commissioning has occurred. This will include the closure of any open write-ups recorded
on the AFTO 747. The declaration of FOC may occur simultaneously with IOC. The
weather certification official will prepare the certification and commissioning documents
for submission. (T-1).