Wind and Temperature Database for Flight Planning

This paper discusses the importance of enroute wind conditions and the need for a wind measurement system which provides accurate and timely observations of wind and temperature conditions aloft. Recent advances in remote measurement of winds, temperature, and humidity such as the Stratospheric-Tropospheric radars and profilers developed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Environmental Research Lab form the basis of such a system. A domestic system could and should be established using these devices together with a near real time winds aloft data dissemination network. Estimates of the saving in aircraft fuel consumption benefits range from 1 to 3 percent per year, or from $ 100 to $ 300 million for U.S. aviation system users at current prices and consumption.