International Flight Folder Documentation Program

International air transport grew at double-digit rates from its earliest post-1945 days until the first oil crisis in 1973. The "scheduled" carrier activity is now more than 100 times what it was in 1945. Much of the impetus for this growth came from technical innovation through the introduction of turboprop aircraft in the early 1950s, transatlantic jets in the late 1950s, wide-bodied transports in the late 60s, airline deregulation in the mid-70s, and now fuel efficient twin jets with improved avionics and Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations over water (ETOPS) certification. The industry is projected to continue its growth meeting increased loads with single (vice double) aisle aircraft due to passenger comfort and fuel economy demands. Paralleling the rise in international flights is the need for global weather information.

Standardized meteorological services are provided by all countries under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in order to ensure safety of flight and a consistent level of service world wide. As a contracting state of ICAO, the United States has agreed to provide flight documentation services to the international aviation community. On October 1, 1998, in accordance with Chapter nine of Annex 3 to the Convention of International Civil Aviation, the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) will provide the required meteorological information to operators and flight crew members for: a) dispatch planning; b) flight crew pre-flight; and c) flight crews en route. The information for the international flight folder documentation program will be initially available via a FAX Back service and eventually by operational Internet posting.

The AWC will provide meteorological flight documentation at specified airports within the United States, its territories and possessions. The flight folder will consist of the following, pertaining to the route of flight and approximate altitude: wind and temperature aloft forecast charts; significant weather charts (with abbreviated plain language descriptions of forecasts as appropriate) ; Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) for departure, destination and alternate; significant meteorological information (SIGMET) charts of tropical cyclones and/or volcanic ash as appropriate; and for flights of 2 hours or less, aerodrome reports (METAR), special reports (SPECI), SIGMETs (for any phenomena), and appropriate special air reports (AIREPs). Weather data will be obtained from the World Area Forecast System (WAFS), a high-speed data line from the Office of System Operations (OSO) in Washington, DC, and the AWC.

The initial system design incorporates a Conversant© MAP/40 FAX Back computer from Lucent Technologies, Inc. with menu driven software developed by AGT, Inc. The system will use a T-1 line which envelopes 24 standard phone lines, 18 outgoing and 6 incoming, to allow connectivity to customer FAX machines. All 24 lines are wrapped under a FTS 2000, 800 service, so there is no cost to the customer. The AWC FAX Back system will allow anyone with an ID and pin # (provided upon request) to retrieve custom flight folder documentation at any time. A help desk will be manned five days/week 8am-4pm CST and may be reached by calling our toll free number 1-877-280-2811, or directly (816) 426-2404. Dennis J.(Jim) McDuffy is the Team Leader for the IFFDP: (816) 584-7262, or dennis.j.mcduffy@noaa.gov.

To request a product from our automated fax back system, call toll free: (877) 808-2203. To speak with an operator, call our help desk: (877) 280-2811; FAX: (816) 880-0115/0139.
Regular business hours, 8am - 4pm (CST), Monday - Friday.