Five things to know about the Aviation Weather Center
By Theresa Barosh | May 2025
About a dozen CIRA researchers and staff sit in the Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Robin Brandeberry covers the help desk for the World Area Forecast System Internet File Service. She aids approved users with access to aviation-related weather information required to support international air traffic management and flight operations.
Brandeberry recently went on vacation and, upon the return flight, got to show off one of her favorite products from the Aviation Weather Center. “The pilot warned that we might have a bumpy flight,” said Brandeberry, “I used aviationweather.gov to show my husband where exactly on our flight path we should expect turbulence, as well as the intensity of the turbulence. It was nice to share some of what this organization does to support those in aviation.”
Amanda Terborg, leading CIRA research at the Aviation Weather Center, said that pilots often pull up Aviation Weather Center tools on their tablets with quick, easy access just like Brandeberry had done on her flight.
Pilots, traffic flow managers and passengers benefit from a slew of Aviation Weather Center resources. They might use the 3-D cloud system modeling to pull up cloud forecasts to plan a route avoiding clouds that could lead to icing on aircraft wings. Or they might use satellite imagery to determine where dust is impacting visibility. Terborg explained that dust storms can reduce visibility just as much as snowstorms. A pilot might receive a convective warning for aviation — a type of advisory — that came into existence because CIRA satellite imagery showed lightning in the area.
“Having that earlier lightning information has really helped with lead time for those warnings and for safety,” said Terborg. It particularly supports safety for ramp crews refueling, doing baggage or driving cars on the tarmac.
Terborg shared five other facts about the Aviation Weather Center:
1. Webpages for the Aviation Weather Center get around 140 million visits per day.
That includes visitors like general aviation pilots and international groups using Aviation Weather Center products to plan safe flights.
2. The Aviation Weather Center is one of three U.S. Meteorological Watch Offices supporting the National Airspace System – a network of controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
The Aviation Weather Center is a collaboration between the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration. Every day, the Federal Aviation Administration provides air traffic service to more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers traveling across the more than 29 million square miles that make up the U.S. national airspace system.
3. The center is one of two World Area Forecast Centers providing global data and awareness.
The other center is located out of the United Kingdom. The Aviation Weather Center provides vital information for international flights. Having a world-wide view of weather also improves national and local forecasts, facilitating awareness of what could be coming next.
4. The Aviation Weather Testbed brings together forecasters and end users with the research and development groups.
Bringing together stakeholders supports the Aviation Weather Center in improving their resources and products. This work allows better information to reach traffic flow managers and pilots so they can make informed decisions. The testbed has a physical space at the Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, though can function in the virtual environment as well.
“We get to work directly with the pilots or the traffic flow managers and get to see what IDSS they do and how we can improve that.” Said Terborg. IDSS stands for Impact-Based Decision Support Services, such as forecast advice and information sharing tailored towards decision makers like traffic flow managers to help them keep our skies safe.
5. Aviation Weather Center researchers and staff provide outreach and educational activities for the aviation community and beyond.
Aviation Weather Center personnel regularly attend public outreach events, such as the Kansas City air show and EAA AirVenture in OshKosh, to talk about aviation research and educate the public and pilots alike on aviation safety. Additionally, Interns and student researchers – from high school students to graduate degree seekers – participate in Aviation Weather Center work. Educational tour groups of all ages regularly visit the center.
What is needed: Continued funding and staffing to support the Aviation Weather Center so the center can keep doing essential work to maintain flight safety.
