Data fusion enables better recognition of ceiling and visibility hazards in aviation

A ceiling and visibility analysis (CVA) was developed that could improve preflight and in-flight situational awareness among pilots, dispatchers, and flight service briefers. CVA yields a real-time map of the current C&V conditions that designate the use of visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR). The primary ceiling and visibility observations used in CVA are taken from approximately 1,650 METAR sites across the contiguous United States (CONUS) and in the U.S.- Canada and U.S.-Mexico border regions. CVA METAR observations are updated every 5 min. This ensures that CVA will reflect the intermittent special observations that are triggered by significant changes in ceiling or visibility, as well as the mandatory METAR reports generated by each station near the top of the hour. Experience gained developing and using CVA has led to concepts for a next-generation C&V analysis product now in development for Alaska. Two additional data sources will augment METARs and satellite data in that product.