§44720. Meteorological services
(a)
(b)
(1) observe, measure, investigate, and study atmospheric phenomena, and maintain meteorological stations and offices, that are necessary or best suited for finding out in advance information about probable weather conditions;
(2) provide reports to the Administrator, to persons engaged in civil aeronautics that are designated by the Administrator, and to other persons designated by the Secretary in a way and with a frequency that best will result in safety in, and facilitating, air navigation;
(3) cooperate with persons engaged in air commerce in meteorological services, maintain reciprocal arrangements with those persons in carrying out this clause, and collect and distribute weather reports available from aircraft in flight;
(4) maintain and coordinate international exchanges of meteorological information required for the safety and efficiency of air navigation;
(5) in cooperation with other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States Government, meteorological services of foreign countries, and persons engaged in air commerce, participate in developing an international basic meteorological reporting network, including the establishment, operation, and maintenance of reporting stations on the high seas, in polar regions, and in foreign countries;
(6) coordinate meteorological requirements in the United States to maintain standard observations, to promote efficient use of facilities, and to avoid duplication of services unless the duplication tends to promote the safety and efficiency of air navigation; and
(7) promote and develop meteorological science and foster and support research projects in meteorology through the use of private and governmental research facilities and provide for publishing the results of the projects unless publication would not be in the public interest.
(
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 44720(a) | 49 App.:1351. | Aug. 23, 1958,
|
| 49 App.:1655(c)(1). | Oct. 15, 1966,
|
|
| 44720(b) | 49 App.:1463. | |
| 49 App.:1655(c)(1). |
In subsection (b), the title "Secretary" [of Commerce] is substituted for "Chief of the Weather Bureau" in section 803 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2024-Subsec. (b)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
ASOS/AWOS Service Report Dashboard
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) The service status of all ASOS/AWOS.
"(B) Information on any actions to repair or replace ASOS/AWOS that are out of service due to technical or weather-related events, including an estimated timeline to return the systems to service.
"(C) A portal on such publicly available website for the public to report ASOS/AWOS outages.
"(2)
"(c)
"(1) the Administrator of the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration]; and
"(2) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."
Providing Non-Federal Weather Observer Training to Airport Personnel
Improved Safety in Rural Areas
"(a)
"(1) to operate under instrument flight rules (in this section referred to as 'IFR') to a destination in a noncontiguous State that has a published instrument approach but does not have a Meteorological Aerodrome Report (in this section referred to as 'METAR'); and
"(2) to conduct an instrument approach at such destination if-
"(A) a current Area Forecast, supplemented by noncertified destination weather observations (such as weather cameras and other noncertified observations), is available, and, at the time of departure, the combination of the Area Forecast and noncertified observation indicates that weather is expected to be at or above approach minimums upon arrival;
"(B) prior to commencing an approach, the air carrier has a means to communicate to the pilot of the aircraft whether the destination weather observation is either at or above minimums for the approach to be flown; and
"(C) in the event the destination weather observation is below such minimums, a suitable alternate airport that has a METAR is specified in the IFR flight plan.
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) how any non-certified human observations will be conducted; and
"(B) how such observations will be communicated-
"(i) to air carriers prior to dispatch; and
"(ii) to pilots prior to approach.
"(3)
"(A)
"(i) that the Administrator has the ability to respond to an application of an air carrier not later than 30 days after receipt of such application; and
"(ii) in the event the Administrator cannot respond within 30 days, that the Administrator informs the air carrier of the expected response time with respect to the application of the air carrier.
"(B)
[
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
"(a)
"(1) such location is determined to be under visual meteorological conditions;
"(2) a current Area Forecast, supplemented by other local weather observations or reports, is available; and
"(3) an alternate airport that has an available Terminal Aerodrome Forecast and weather report is specified.
"(b)
"(1) have approved procedures for dispatch or release and enroute weather evaluation; and
"(2) operate under instrument flight rules enroute to the destination.
"(c)
"(d)
Automated Weather Observing Systems Policy
"(a)
"(1) update automated weather observing systems standards to maximize the use of new technologies that promote the reduction of equipment or maintenance cost for non-Federal automated weather observing systems, including the use of remote monitoring and maintenance, unless demonstrated to be ineffective;
"(2) review, and if necessary update, existing policies in accordance with the standards developed under paragraph (1); and
"(3) establish a process under which appropriate onsite airport personnel or an aviation official may, with appropriate manufacturer training or alternative training as determined by the Administrator, be permitted to conduct the minimum triannual preventative maintenance checks under the advisory circular for non-Federal automated weather observing systems (AC 150/5220–16E) and any other similar, successor checks.
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) ensure the standards are performance-based;
"(2) use risk analysis to determine the accuracy of the automated weather observing systems outputs required for pilots to perform safe aircraft operations; and
"(3) provide a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the benefits outweigh the cost for any requirement not directly related to safety.
"(d)
"(1)
"(A) the airport sponsor or State, as applicable, certifies that a grant for such automated weather observing systems equipment under that chapter will assist an applicable airport to respond to regional emergency needs, including medical, firefighting, and search and rescue needs;
"(B) the Secretary determines, after consultation with the airport sponsor or State, as applicable, that the placement of automated weather-observing equipment at the airport will not cause unacceptable radio frequency congestion; and
"(C) the other requirements under that chapter are met.
"(2)
"(e)
Automated Surface Observation System Stations
"(1) the Administrator determines that the system provides consistent reporting of changing meteorological conditions and notifies Congress in writing of that determination; and
"(2) 60 days have passed since the report was transmitted to Congress."