Drucella Andersen
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                
October 25, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-4727)

H. Keith Henry
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
(Phone:  804/864-6120)


RELEASE:  93-194

COCKPIT WEATHER SYSTEM MAY SAVE AIRLINES $6 MILLION PER YEAR

     Tests of a new NASA-developed, in-flight weather information 
system show that it could help airlines save nearly $6 million per 
year.

     The Cockpit Weather Information Needs (CWIN) system draws on 
several commercial data sources to create radar maps of storms and 
lightning and reports of surface observations.  In NASA 
simulations from March to July, pilots on 14 flight crews burned 
less fuel and flew fewer miles in avoiding bad weather using CWIN 
displays.

     "We believe the fuel, distance and time savings from a system 
like CWIN would cut a typical airline's operating costs by $5.9 
million annually," said Charles H. Scanlon, who developed the 
system at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.  "Planes 
have to fly around storm hazards about once every 13 flights, so 
it's a real issue."

     Pilots have problems getting and evaluating timely weather 
information.  Onboard radar cannot "see" more than 150 miles out 
or through large thunderstorms.  Pilots do receive weather data 
from air traffic controllers by voice or through digital 
transmissions, but the pilots still must figure out the true size 
of storm cells and their relation to the plane's flight path.
 
    In contrast, CWIN provides computer graphics that show the 
position of storms and lightning on maps that also contain the 
aircraft's actual flight path and possible alternate routes.  A 
green-yellow-red color coding system shows the intensity of the 
radar echoes.  Lightning reports appear as yellow dots.  Pilots 
interact with CWIN via a touch-sensitive screen.


                             - more -
                                      
                              - 2 -


     From March 29 to July 8, 1993, flight crews from America 
West, Northwest, United, USAir, Boeing and Honeywell tested CWIN 
at Langley.  Each crew made two simulated flights from Denver to 
Reno, Nev., and two from Denver to St. Louis.  CWIN was used on 
half the missions.

     The pilots used 5 percent less fuel and flew 5 percent fewer 
miles detouring around adverse weather on the flights where CWIN 
was available.  Almost all said their ability to monitor weather 
along the route was "much better" than current systems.  Eighteen 
of the 26 pilots gave CWIN a "much better" safety level in bad 
weather operations.

     The pilots especially liked CWIN's ability to display 
historical data.  The system replays the five most recent maps of 
storms, lightning and surface observations when a button on the 
screen is touched.  This feature lets pilots make better decisions 
about alternate routes based on how bad weather is developing or 
dissipating.

     Weather data for the CWIN evaluations were pulled from 
several sources.  Radar summaries came from WSI, Inc., Billerica, 
Mass.  Lightning data came from GDS, Inc., Tucson, Ariz.  Alden 
Weather, Westborough, Mass., supplied surface observations and 
airport forecasts.  Text for the weather data was drawn from 
CompuServe, Columbus, Ohio.

     CWIN technology already is being adapted for the General 
Aviation market.  ARNAV Systems, Inc., Puyallup, Wash., and PanAm 
Weather Services, Minneapolis, are marketing a cockpit weather 
system called "WxLink" that uses several CWIN features, including 
lightning graphics and ground-based radar summaries.

     WxLink sends weather data to an aircraft and accepts 
automatic pilot reports of weather conditions.  The pilot reports 
then are sent via satellite into the National Weather System, 
where other weather users can access them.

     WxLink uses a network of ground transceivers owned by PanAm 
and aviation electronics sold by ARNAV.  The companies first are 
marketing the system to owners of small aircraft.

     The Critical Technologies Division of NASA's Office of 
Aeronautics, Headquarters, Washington, D.C., managed development 
of the Cockpit Weather Information Needs system.  Dr. James 
Jenkins is the Program Manager.

                                                   -end-

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Photos showing several CWIN displays are 
available to media representatives by calling 202/358-1900

Color:  93-HC-414 to -417             B&W: 93-H-459 to -462.