 Automated
Weather Observing System (AWOS)
Accurate and up-to-date weather information is essential to the safe and economic operation of any airport, large or small. Few things change faster than the weather. As the leading provider of FAA-certified AWOS systems, AWI provides the power and versatility you need to stay on top of those changes. Without weather data, your airport cannot operate under IFR conditions, and this can cost you money in lost landing fees and services.
"We are very happy with our new AWOS system from All Weather. Everyone loves it. It's like a new toy for our pilots. And thank you for saving us from going completely crazy dealing with the FCC." [more] - Maria Liddle, Operations Manager, Mariposa-Yosimite Airport, Mariposa, California, USA
AWOS Description
 AWI’s series 900 AWOS automatically measures meteorological parameters, reduces and analyzes the data via a powerful computer, and broadcasts aviation weather reports which can be received by aircraft operating up to 10,000 feet above ground level and 25 nautical miles from the AWOS. Pilots can use the aviation weather information provided by the AWOS to partially fulfill the requirements of various FARs. For example, at airports with instrument approaches, an AWOS weather report eliminates the remote altimeter penalty and, thereby, allows use of the published minimum decent altitude.
The AWOS is a modular system utilizing a central processor which receives input from multiple sensors. Five standard groups of sensors are defined, however, an AWOS may be certified with any combination of inputs. Depending upon system configuration, additional sensors may be certified to any AWOS configuration. The differences configurations are listed below:
- AWOS A: Dual-pressure sensor measures pressure and reports altimeter setting
- AWOS I: Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Wind Direction, Variable Wind Direction, Temperature, Dew Point, Altimeter Setting, Density Altitude
- AWOS II: Same as AWOS I + Visibility, Variable Visibility, Precipitation, Day/Night
- AWOS III: Same as AWOS II + Cloud Height & Sky Condition
- AWOS III-P: Same as AWOS III + Present Weather Identification Sensor
- AWOS III-P-T: Same as AWOS III + Present Weather & Lightning Detection
- AWOS III-P-T-Z: Same as AWOS III + Present Weather & Lightning Detection, Freezing Rain Detection
All series 900 sensors are built with the same high quality you would expect from AWI All sensors meet or exceed the requirements of the FAA as well as the requirements of the international governing bodies, ICAO and WMO.
AWOS Weather Information Output
 Data from the AWOS is voice synthesized to provide a weather report that can be transmitted via VHF radio, NDB, or VOR ensuring that pilots on approach have up-to-date airport weather conditions. The transmission can be continuous or a 3-minute continuous broadcast triggered by three clicks of a pilot’s microphone on the AWOS broadcast frequency.
 Hear an AWOS Automated Aviation Weather Report
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- This voice data report is also available by telephone, so that current conditions can be obtained from any location.
- The series 900 AWOS III (or greater) provides an optional system connection to the National Airspace Data Interchange Network, NADIN, and the AWOS Data Acquisition System, ADAS, operated by the FAA to provide information to the Weather Message Switching Service (WMSC). These services provide weather data to Flight Service Stations and commercial airports for pilot briefings, National Weather Service forecasting, and other weather services.
The connection to NADIN also enables reception of lightning data, as well as providing your data to the FAA, NWA, and other airports connected to the service.
AWOS Modes of Operation
The output of the AWOS weather observation is controlled by one of four modes of operation. Mode 1 is applicable to all systems; modes 2, 3, and 4 are applicable only to systems configured with an operator terminal. Modes 3 and 4 require an agreement with the NWS to maintain a Non-Federal Observer program to augment and backup the AWOS system.
- Mode 1 – Full-time Automated Operation. In this mode the AWOS operates 24 hours/day without any manual input. The automated weather observations are updated on a minute-by-minute basis. There is no weather observer input to the AWOS.
- Mode 2 – Full-time Automated Operation with Local Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). Operation in this mode is the same as Mode 1, with the addition of the capability to append a manually recorded NOTAM to the automated voice reports. The voice synthesizer system is installed in the PC together with a microphone that allows input of two (2) voice remarks, each up to 90 seconds in duration. These NOTAM messages are automatically broadcast with the synthesized data from the AWOS.
- Mode 3 – Full-time Automated Operation with Manual Weather Augmentation and Local NOTAM Option. Operation in this mode provides the capability for a weather observer to manually augment the automated observation by appending a weather entry to the observation during the weather observer duty hours.
- Mode 4 – Part-time Manual Operation. This mode is normally used for backup. It permits a weather observer to enter a complete manual observation into the system.
 The series 900 Computer Display Processor (CDP) includes a 15" color monitor (optional 17" and 21" screens are available) to process the data and provide data storage and display. The series 900 software displays the data in color with an automatic color change for error messages and off line sensors. The software is menu-driven and includes help screens for each menu. The algorithms used in the processing of data are FAA & ICAO approved to ensure accurate data is sent to your airport users. The system can archive data for up to one (1) year at 5-minute intervals. A printer is included for report generation, error message reporting, and printing of archived data.
The CDP has an integral timer that ensures automatic restart of the system in the event of a power failure. The series 900 also has an optional, uninterruptable power supply that provides backup power in the event of power failure.
 AWOS Net
For more advanced communication capabilities, AWI's AWOS Net is the industry's first aviation weather web server to provide fully integrated, remote displays of FAA certified aviation weather data over a vast array of network environments, including the Internet. AWOS Net distributes data across an airport or around the world using high reliability wired IP networks, wireless systems, or PSTN dial-up connections. Unlike other display systems, all AWOS Net data elements are fully FAA certified, including wind speed and direction, visibility, temperature/dew point, humidity, cloud height, and pressure. View the AWOS Net data sheet for complete specs
AWOS Expandability
 The modular design of the series 900 makes it easy to expand at any time. If you start with an AWOS I and necessity dictates an expansion, simply add the required sensors to bring your system up to AWOS III P/T level. The display system can also be expanded to provide remote displays wherever they are required at the airport.
AWOS Installation and Maintenance
The AWI series 900 AWOS is simple and inexpensive to install. We provide an easy to follow AWOS site preparation checklist to ensure an error-free installation. The optional UHF data link means that expensive trenching and cable runs from the field station to the displays are not required. Review the AWOS site installation manual for more details.
 Due to the modular design of the series 900 and the built-in diagnostics, the system is simple and inexpensive to maintain. The diagnostic software continually checks each sensor and each module of the system for accuracy and correct operation. Should a failure occur, it is reported immediately. The diagnostic software points the technician to the exact component that has failed, making the mean time to repair the lowest of any AWOS system.
AWOS Remote Maintenance Monitoring
 All AWI AWOS systems have full Remote Maintenance Monitoring (RMM) capabilities. AWI provided the FAA with a full RMM system for the Federal airport AWOS network to enable continuous monitoring of all 200 Federal sites. AWI also offers this service to commercial customers in the US and around the world. This service ensures that when failure does occur, we know about it as soon as you do. AWI can provide either a replacement part or an engineer to solve the problem. Review the AWOS RMM manual.
Experience
AWI was founded in 1977 and has over 20 years of experience in providing airport weather equipment worldwide, many at major international airports. Review our Large Program Experience page.
All AWI systems are built to the highest standards of quality and reliability, using only the latest, proven technologies to ensure complete customer satisfaction.
From Alaska to Florida
In 1987 AWI was awarded the contract to supply 160 AWOS systems to the Federal Aviation Administration. Later the FAA purchased another 40 systems. They are installed across the United States, from the Arctic Circle in Alaska to the deserts of Arizona, to the Everglades of Florida. AWI still provides full maintenance support for those sites under contract to the FAA. Since that time AWI has installed over 300 AWOS systems nationwide.
As a result of AWI’s vast experience with AWOS and FAA, we have developed the latest, state-of-the-art, AWOS system. The AWI series 900 AWOS system provides accurate, reliable, weather data in compliance with FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5220-16. |
