YLW Connection - Summer 2008 - (Page 27)

LET’S GET TECHNICAL | B Y D E B O R A H G R E AV E S The air up there: another new installation helps keep you safe in Kelowna’s aerodrome Everyone who flies knows those moments of tension inside an aircraft when it’s landing in a storm. The ability to predict weather is vital to air travel. NAV CANADA, in partnership with Environment Canada, monitors the skies above Kelowna International Airport and does its utmost to deliver accurate information about all aspects of the weather. Tipping bucket rain gauge This spring, NAV CANADA acquired and installed a state-of-the-art monitoring system at YLW: a new Automatic Weather Observation System, or AWOS. To be maintained by NAV CANADA, the upgraded AWOS is the first to be installed in Western Canada. Though the new set of silver and red-andwhite machines is inconspicuous on the grass next to the pre-existing Environment Canada AWOS at YLW, the information provided by the new AWOS is even more accurate. Every hour, the Automated Weather Observation System creates a report on the weather occurring at the observation site, mechanically ‘peering’ into and reading the sky. Whenever there’s a dramatic change, the AWOS issues an additional alert. In early June this year NAV CANADA site manager Paul England described the components of the new AWOS and their functions. “The ice accretion sensor measures the occurrence of ice accumulation on metal. The barometer provides a measurement of air pressure at the airport so pilots can set their altimeters. There is a new combination visibility and precipitation sensor that is aimed so that it won’t be affected by perching raptors, a problem in the past. Another sensor measures temperature and dew point, and a tipping bucket rain gauge measures both the rate and accumulation of rainfall. A laser ceilometer measures layers of cloud as well as the height up to 25,000 feet and amount of cloud present. An ice-resistant anemometer is heated to eliminate errors in wind speed or direction information owing to ice or snow build-up.” The final components of the upgraded system, said England, are two digital cameras to provide current visuals of conditions at Kelowna International. The images will be available on the NAV CANADA Aviation Weather Web Site at www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca. The upgraded AWOS was installed by the second week in June 2008. The legacy AWOS will function in tandem with the new one until authorities are satisfied the new AWOS is operating flawlessly. The Kelowna AWOS as well as other monitoring systems provide data to help forecasters develop the TAF - or Aerodrome Forecast. The TAF describes and predicts weather conditions ‘most likely to occur’ within the five nautical miles vicinity of the airport terminal. Thunderstorm reporting using lightning data from the Canadian Lightning Detection Network will also be available. The various manned and unmanned weather observation systems together provide a comprehensive picture of conditions YLW has to cope with while managing air traffic. “The new AWOS will provide increased reliability and accuracy in order to ensure that flight crews have up-to-the-minute current weather information,” said Airport Duty Manager, Development, Henry Castorf in June. “This will assist in flight planning and minimize any potential weather related delays. Benefits to passengers are increased flight operations reliability and on time performance.” A great deal of analysis and reporting goes into keeping the skies friendly. n SUMMER 2008 27 http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of YLW Connection - Summer 2008

YLW Connection - Summer 2008
Contents
Carrying Through on the Interim: Sam Samaddar, Interim Airport General Manager
Live Fire
Reserve RCMP program
Calgary – Heart of the New West
Penticton – A True Okanagan Experience
Penticton’s Meeting Place
Flying High Jet Fuel: Implications for the Aviation Industry
Airport Services
Backcountry Adventure
The UPS Store Welcomes Brown to Town
Freight Handling at YLW
Pack Smart, Travel Light plus Keeping Fit while Traveling
Kelowna Art Gallery Launches Satellite Gallery
Heli-Wine Tours
Let’s Get Technical: The Air Up There
YLW News
Trivia & Games

YLW Connection - Summer 2008

https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/dawson/ylwconnection_2009spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/dawson/dawson/ylwconnection_2009winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/dawson/ylwconnection_2008summer
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com