-------- Original Message --------
802
NOUS41 KWBC 271325
PNSWSH
SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 09-41
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
925 AM EDT MON JUL 27 2009
TO: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ OFFICES
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION /FAA/ USERS
FAMILY OF SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS
OTHER USERS OF NWS AVIATION FORECASTS
NWS EMPLOYEES
FROM: CYNDIE ABELMAN
CHIEF...AVIATION SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: DISCONTINUATION OF INTERNATIONAL ROUTE FORECASTS:
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2 2009
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2 2009 AT 0001 COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME
/UTC/...THE NWS WILL DISCONTINUE THE ROUTE FORECASTS /ROFOR/ FOR
KWAJALEIN TO MAJURO /RFRKWA/ AND FOR MAJURO TO TARAWA /RFRFFN/.
AWIPS IDENTIFER WMO HEADING GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTOR
RFRKWA FROC32 PHFO KWAJALEIN TO MAJURO
RFRFFN FROC33 PHFO MAJURO TO TARAWA
THE FINAL RFRKWA WILL BE ISSUED AT 1900 UTC ON SEPTEMBER 1 2009.
THE FINAL RFRFFN WILL BE ISSUED AT 1730 UTC ON AUGUST 28 2009.
THE ROFOR FOR SAN FRANCISCO/SANTA BARBARA TO HONOLULU /RFRKSF/
IS UNAFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE AND WILL CONTINUE.
WFO HONOLULU...IN ITS CAPACITY AS A METEOROLOGICAL WATCH OFFICE
DESIGNATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION
/ICAO/...ISSUES ROFORS DAILY FOR A ROUTE FROM KWAJALEIN TO
MAJURO AND WEEKLY FOR A ROUTE FROM MAJURO TO TARAWA. THESE
ROFORS PROVIDE FLIGHT LEVEL WIND AND TEMPERATURE INFORMATION.
WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE WINDS AND TEMPERATURES ALOFT PRODUCTS
/FB BULLETINS/...IMPLEMENTED IN AWIPS CHANGE NOTICE #AB943 IN
SEPTEMBER 2004...THESE TWO ROFORS PROVIDE DUPLICATE INFORMATION
AND ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. IN ADDITION THE ICAO...IN AMENDMENT 74
TO ANNEX III...REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF
ROFORS.
FB BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://AVIATIONWEATHER.GOV/PRODUCTS/NWS/WINDS/
WFO HONOLULU SOLICITED COMMENTS OVER A TWO-MONTH PERIOD IN
2008...SEEKING FEEDBACK FROM ANYONE WHO MAY STILL USE THESE
ROFORS. ONLY ONE COMMENT WAS RECEIVED FROM AN AIRLINE STATING
THAT IT NO LONGER USES THE KWAJALEIN TO MAJURO ROFOR. NO
COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED REGARDING THE MAJURO TO TARAWA ROFOR.
COMMENTS WERE ALSO SOLICITED REGARDING THE SAN FRANCISCO/SANTA
BARBARA TO HONOLULU ROFOR. THERE WAS OVERWHELMING FEEDBACK THAT
THIS ROFOR WAS VITAL AND SHOULD CONTINUE. THEREFORE NO CHANGES
ARE BEING MADE TO RFRKSF.
NWS INSTRUCTION 10-811 /ENROUTE FORECASTS AND ADVISORIES/ WILL
BE UPDATED TO REMOVE RFRKWA AND RFRFFN DURING THE NEXT ROUTINE
DIRECTIVE REVIEW CYCLE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS...PLEASE CONTACT:
JOHN H. BRAVENDER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
2525 CORREA ROAD SUITE 250
HONOLULU HI 96822
808-973-5282
W-HFO.AVIATION@xxxxxxxx
NATIONAL SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT /USE
LOWERCASE/:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM
$$
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