Weather Service Modernization Criteria

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 946

[Docket No. 960418114-6114-01]

RIN 0648-AF72

Weather Service Modernization Criteria

AGENCY: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed amendment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Weather Service Modernization Act, (the

Act), the National Weather Service (NWS) is publishing a proposed

amendment to its criteria for modernization actions requiring

certification. This amendment adds criteria unique to automating a

field office to ensure that automation actions will not result in any

degradation of service. Automating a field office occurs after

automated surface observing system (ASOS) equipment is installed and

commissioned at a field office and the NWS employees that were

performing surface observations at that office are removed or

reassigned. At sites where NWS will remain, such as Weather Forecast

Offices, NWS will perform the necessary augmentation and back-up,

therefore no automation certification is required.

DATES: Comments are requested by June 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of documents stated in the preamble as

being available upon request and comments should be sent to Julie

Scanlon, NOAA/NWS, SSMC2, Room

[[Page 19595]]

9332, 1325 East--West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Scheller, 301-713-0454.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 704(a) of the Act requires the NWS

to contract with the National Research Council (NRC) for a review of

the scientific and technical criteria for specified modernization

actions. The NRC conducted this review and submitted the required

report assessing the criteria to the Secretary of Commerce on July 28,

1993. Readers may obtain a copy of this Report from the contact and at

the address provided above.

Section 704(b) of the Act requires the NWS to publish the criteria

in the Federal Register, based on the NRC Report, after providing an

opportunity for public comment and after consulting with the NRC and

the Modernization Transition Committee (the Committee) established by

section 707 of the Act. On March 2, 1994 the NWS published many of the

required criteria as Appendix A to the general modernization

regulations at 15 CFR 946 (see 59 FR 9921). These criteria were

published in four categories as follows:

(1) those for modernization actions that do not require prior

certification of no degradation of service, i.e., commissioning new

weather observation systems and decommissioning outdated NWS radars

(Appendix A, Section I.);

(2) those for modernization actions that require certification and

that are common to all such actions, e.g., providing appropriate

notification in the National Implementation Plan, describing local

weather characteristics and related weather concerns; comparing

services before and after the action (Appendix A, Section II.A.);

(3) those for modernization actions that require certification and

that are unique to consolidating field offices (Appendix A, Section

II.B.); and

(4) those for modernization actions that require certification and

that are unique to relocating field offices (Appendix A, Section

II.C.).

Besides the proposed new criteria, the criteria for commissioning

an ASOS and the criteria common to all modernization actions requiring

certification are applicable to automation actions. These sections of

the previously published criteria are attached for reference (see

Attachment 1).

At the time these criteria were published, the remaining criteria

unique to automating field offices and the criteria for losing these

offices required further development. Since no actions to automate or

close field offices were imminent, the publication of these additional

criteria was deferred.

Developing the automation criteria required further coordination

with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation

industry to ensure that they would adequately promote aviation

requirements. Developing these criteria also required further

refinement of the NWS' Supplementary Data Program. There now appears to

be general agreement between the FAA and the industry on aviation

service levels suitable for incorporation into the criteria. In

addition, the NWS has published a Notice setting forth its

Supplementary Data Program (60 FR 64020, Dec. 13, 1995. Consequently

the NWS is now proposing the remaining criteria unique to automation

actions at NWS field offices. These criteria would be added to Section

II of Appendix A to 15 CFR Part 946 as a new subsection D. The NWS will

continue to defer publication of the criteria for closing field

offices.

As set forth in the NWS's general modernization regulations,

automation consists of removing or reassigning the NWS employees

responsible for taking surface observations after an ASOS has been

commissioned. This process generally occurs in two stages.

During the first state, an ASOS is installed and commissioned and

begins to provide the official observations for the relevant office.

Thee primary criterion at this stage is successful commissioning of the

ASOS in accordance with the previously published criteria (see Appendix

A. Section I.A.1). In addition, where the ASOS is located on an

airport, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary

of Transportation, must determine that the weather services provided

after commissioning will continue to be in full compliance with

applicable flight aviation rules promulgated by the FAA. Providing this

determination is an additional criterion at these sites. This

determination was completed on a programmatic basis per a series of

letters between Dr. Elbert W. Friday, Jr., Assistant Administrator for

Weather Services and Mr. Anthony J. Broderick, Associate Administrator

for Regulation and Certification, FAA, dated, November 18, 1992,

December 20, 1992, and January 15, 1993. These letters will be included

with each automation certification in compliance with 15 CFR 946.5(b).

At this first stage, the ASOS observation alone often does not

provide a replacement for the manual observations sufficient to

maintain equivalent-services. NWS employees and/or contract personnel

have continued to augment the ASOS observation pending a determination

of what weather observations, in addition to those provided by ASOS,

may be needed and certification that the needed observations can be

provided by other sources without degrading service.

During the second state of automation, the NWS employees are

relieved of their remaining surface observing responsibilities. The

proposed criteria are intended to provide the basis for certifying that

this action will not result in any degradation of service, i.e., that

the data from the ASOS, together with the data available from other

sources are adequate to support equivalent services. Automation of NWS

field offices will only occur at those sites where there will no longer

be an NWS presence. At sites where NWS will remain, such as Weather

Forecast Offices, NWS will perform the necessary augmentation and back-

up, therefore no automation certification is required.

For aviation services, an important source of additional data at

many airports is that provided by on-site augmentation appended to the

ASOS observation. The extent of what level of augmentation is necessary

has been the subject of extensive consultations between the FAA and the

aviation industry. Beginning in June of 1994, the FAA, the NWS, and the

aviation industry held a series of workshops to define such

requirements in a manner acceptable to the broad range of aviation

users. The participants in these workshops established the objectives

and framework for a joint demonstration project which was conducted

over a six month period at 25 sites with bi-monthly reviews by

industry.

During this process, the FAA and the aviation industry refined the

FAA's historical practice of tailoring services to the specific

requirements of individual airports, ranking all airports, including

the 143 airports served by NWS field offices that are subject to

certification. This ranking was done according to a composite score

that reflected three separate scores: one for Bad Weather Operations,

which factored in both the percentage of time that the airport is

subject to specified adverse weather conditions and total operations at

the airport; a second for distance to the nearest suitable alternate

airport; and the third for certain airport characteristics, such as

categories of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) approach capabilities, and

operational designations.

[[Page 19596]]

Based on this composite score, the FAA and the aviation industry

identified four categories of airports and the optimum level of

augmentation for each. The levels agreed to are set forth in the

Aviation Service Standards Summary chart in Criterion II.D.4 and those

NWS airports in each category are listed in Appendix B to the

regulations.

The first category encompasses approximately 300 nontowered

airports (involving 27 NWS field offices) referred to as ``D'' Level

Service airports, at which the parties agreed that the ASOS observation

should constitute the entire observation, i.e., no additional

parameters would be augmented, and there would be no manual back-up.

Those 27 airports with NWS field offices for which this level of

service is proposed are listed as ``D'' Level Service airports in

Appendix B.

The parties then agreed on the basic level of augmentation that was

needed for purposes of aviation safety at all commercial airports. This

level, referred to as ``C'' Level Service, would include augmentation

of the following parameters: thunderstorms, tornados, hail, virga,

volcanic ash, and tower visibility. In addition, there would be on-site

backup for the ASOS. This ``C'' Level Service of augmentation would be

provided at all towered airports. ``C'' Level Service was determined to

be the optimum level of augmentation at approximately 300 towered

airports, including 51 airports with NWS field offices. Those 51

airports with NWS field offices are listed as ``C'' Level Service

airports in Appendix B.

At 135 airports, augmentation beyond that required for aviation

safety was considered optimum. These airports were divided into two

categories: (1) those 78 airports (involving 40 NWS field offices)

which received the highest score, i.e., major aviation hubs and high

traffic volume airports with average or worse weather, referred to as

``A'' Level Service airports; and (2) the remaining group of 57

airports (involving 25 NWS field offices) that are smaller hubs or

special airports in other ways, that have worse than average bad

weather operations for thunderstorms and/or freezing/frozen

precipitation, and/or that are remote airports, referred to as ``B''

Level Service airports. The NWS airports designated for these two

levels of service are listed in Appendix B under ``A'' Level Service

and ``B'' Level Service respectively.

The maximum level of service, ``A'' Level Service, would involve

augmenting an ASOS observation by a comprehensive suite of manual

observations including either long-line Runway Visual Range (RVR)

readings at airports equipped with remote RVR capability or, at other

airports, observed visibility increments down to an eighth of a mile,

sixteenth of a mile and zero. The ``B'' Level Service would add

parameters such as ice pellets and snow depth to the ``C'' Level

Service, but would not include certain parameters, e.g., cloud types

and cloud layers above 12,000 feet which are part of the ``A'' Level

Service, but which were found unnecessary because of less crowded

traffic patterns and/or the less diverse and/or severe weather

conditions at these airports. Both ``A'' and ``B'' Level Service

airports (as well as ``C'' Level Service airports, mentioned

previously) would have on-site backup for the ASOS.

Criterion II.D.4a incorporates the above augmentation levels into

the certification process for the NWS field offices involved.

It should be noted that FAA funds, not NWS funds, would be used to

provide the required level of augmentation at airports transitioning to

the FAA. At the present time, funds are available to provide

augmentation beyond the ``C'' Level only at those 22 airports with the

maximum level of aviation activity, commonly referred to as FAA level 5

airports. The 10 NWS field offices subject to automation certification

among these 22 airports are denoted in Appendix B with a ``+''.

Consequently, for those ``A'' and ``B'' Level airports at which funding

is not available, the criterion would be that augmentation would

continue to be provided at the existing, level (``C'' Level Service),

but would be upgraded to the optimum level if funds became available.

The delay in achieving the desired level of service at these

airports should not be confused with a degradation of service related

to any automation action. To the extent that there may be any perceived

reduction in the level of service, it would be the result of funding

limitations and would occur (or already has occurred) independently of

the automation.

As stated above, the FAA will be responsible for ensuring the

required level of augmentation, by their own employees, by Limited

Aviation Weather Reporting Station (LAWRS), or by contract, at all NWS

sites being transitioned to the FAA and subject to automation

certification. The NWS has developed a checklist to ensure the smooth

transition of augmentation/back-up responsibility from the NWS to the

FAA for those sites being transitioned. The checklist specifically

takes into consideration the FAA service level standards and documents

that the needed steps have been completed, e.g., ASOS equipment is

properly configured. After site transition to the FAA, the NWS will

retain responsibility for ASOS maintenance, observer certification and

site inspection. Completion of this checklist is specifically included

as an element of proposed Criterion II.D.4.

Some weather parameters observed manually today will not be

observed by ASOS or appended to those augmented observations supporting

aviation services, at least initially. To ensure equivalent services,

the NWS has introduced two new classes of observations: Supplementary

Data Observations (SDOs), which are event driven, i.e., taken only when

a phenomenon is observed and not at any scheduled time; and

Supplementary Climate Data (SCDs), which are routinely scheduled

observations useful for climatological applications and

hydrometeorological operations. Both types of observations will

originate at the 118 NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and be

disseminated through normal NWS communications systems, the Family of

Services, the NOAA Weather Wire, and various commercial vendor

services. The full suite of elements which could be reported as

Supplementary Data are described in the December 13, 1995 Federal

Register notice. Of course, each WFO will report only those elements

that it observes, i.e., those phenomena that occur in its area.

Additional surface observational data in the ASOS era will also

continue to be available from over 20,000 automatic and manual

hydrometeorological sites, including cooperative and hydrological

networks.

Proposed Criterion II.D.5 requires that the certification include a

determination that these data reported from adjacent WFO(s) together

with the ASOS observation as augmented and any complementary data such

as satellite and lightning detection data are adequate to ensure no

degradation of service for all users.

A. Classification Under Executive Order 12866

These proposed regulations establish procedures and criteria for

certifying that certain actions to modernize NWS will not result in any

degradation of weather services to the affected service area. They will

not result in any direct or indirect economic impacts, and have been

determined not to be significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

These regulations set forth the criteria for certifying that

certain modernization

[[Page 19597]]

actions will not result in a degradation of service to the affected

area. These criteria will be appended to the Weather Service

Modernization regulations. The Assistant General Counsel for

Legislation and Regulation of the Department of Commerce has certified

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration

that these criteria, if adopted as proposed, will not have a

significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

These proposed criteria are intended for internal agency use, and the

impact on small business entities will be negligible. The proposed

criteria do not directly affect ``small government jurisdictions'' as

defined by Pub. L. 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Accordingly,

no initial regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980

These regulations will impose no information collection

requirements of the type covered by Pub. L. 96-511, the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1980.

D. E.O. 12612

This rule does not contain policies with sufficient Federalism

implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism assessment under

Executive Order 12612.

E. National Environmental Policy Act

NOAA has concluded that publication of this proposed rule does not

constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality

of the human environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement

is not required. A programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

regarding NEXRAD was prepared in November 1984, and an Environmental

Assessment to update the portion of the EIS dealing with the bioeffects

of NEXRAD non-ionizing radiation was issued in 1993.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 946

Administrative practice and procedure, certification,

Commissioning, Decommissioning, National Weather Service, Weather

service modernization.

Dated: April 29, 1996.

Elbert W. Friday, Jr.,

Assistant Administrator for Weather Services.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, 15 CFR part 946 is

proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 946--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 946 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: Title VII of Pub. L. 102-567, 106 Stat 4303 (15

U.S.C. 313n.)

2. Appendix A is amended by adding a new subsection (D) under

section II. Criteria for modernization actions requiring certification,

to read as set forth below. Subsections I. (A)(1) and II. (A) are

republished without change for the convenience of the reader.

Appendix A to Part 946--National Weather Service Modernization Criteria

I. Modernization Criteria for Actions Not Requiring Certification

(A) Commissioning of New Weather Observation Systems

(1) Automated Surface Observation Systems (ASOS)

Purpose: Successful commissioning for full operational use

requires a demonstration, by tests and other means, that the ASOS

equipment, as installed in the field office, meets its technical

requirements; that the prescribed operating, maintenance, and

logistic support elements are in place; that operations have been

properly staffed with trained personnel and that the equipment can

be operated with all other installed mating elements of the

modernized NWS system.

Note: It may be necessary to incorporate work-arounds to

complete some of the items listed below in a timely and cost-

effective manner. A work-around provides for an alternative method

of meeting a commissioning criteria through the application of a

pre-approved operational procedure implemented on a temporary basis,

for example, by human augmentation of the observation for the

occurrence of freezing rain, until such time as a freezing rain

sensor has been accepted for operational use with ASOS. The ASOS

Plan referenced below includes a process for recommending,

approving, and documenting work arounds and requires that they be

tracked as open items until they can be eliminated by implementation

of the originally intended capability.

References: The criteria and evaluation elements for

commissioning are set forth and further detailed in the NWS-

Sponsored Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Site Component

Commissioning Plan (the ASOS Plan), more specifically in Addendum I,

Appendix D of the ASOS Site Component Commissioning Evaluation

Package (the ASOS Package).

Criteria: a. ASOS Acceptance Test: The site component acceptance

test, which includes objective tests to demonstrate that the ASOS,

as installed at the given site, meets its technical specifications,

has been successfully completed in accordance with item 1a, p. D-2

of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

b. Sensor Siting: Sensor sitings provide representative

observations in accordance with Appendix C of the ASOS Package,

Guidance for Evaluating Representativeness of ASOS Observations and

item 1b, p. D-2 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

c. Initialization Parameters: Initialization parameters are in

agreement with source information provided by the ASOS Program

Office, in accordance with item 1c, pp. D-2 & D-3 of Appendix D of

the ASOS Package.

d. Sensor Performance Verification: Sensor performance has been

verified in accordance with the requirements stated in the ASOS Site

Technical Manual and item 1d, p. D-3 of the ASOS Package.

e. Field Modification Kits/Firmware Installed: All critical

field modification kits and firmware for the site as required by

attachments 3a & b (pp. D-45 & D-46) or memorandum issued to the

regions, have been installed on the ASOS in accordance with item 1e,

p. D-4 of Appendix of the ASOS Package.

f. Operations and Maintenance Documentation: A full set of

operations and maintenance documentation is available in accordance

with items 2a-h, pp. D-5 & D-6 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

g. Notification of and Technical Coordination with Users: All

affected users have been notified of the initial date for ASOS

operations and have received a technical coordination package in

accordance with item 2i, pp. D-6 & D-7 of Appendix D of the ASOS

Package.

h. Availability of Trained Operations Personnel: Adequate

operations staff are available, training materials are available,

and required training has been completed, per section 3.2.3.1 of the

ASOS Plan, in accordance with items 3a-c, p. D-8 of Appendix D of

the ASOS package.

i. Maintenance Capability: Proper maintenance personnel and

support systems and arrangements are available in accordance with

items 4a-e, pp. D-9 & D-10 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

j. Performance of Site Interfaces: The equipment can be operated

in all of its required modes and in conjunction with all of its

interfacing equipment per the detailed checklists of items 5a-b, pp.

D-11 & D-19 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

k. Support of Associated NWS Forecasting and Warning Services:

The equipment provides proper support of NWS forecasting and warning

services and archiving, including operation of all specified

automatic and manually augmented modes per the checklist, items 6a-

e, pp. D-20 to D-29, of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

l. Service Backup Capabilities: Personnel, equipment, and

supporting services are available and capable of providing required

backup readings and services in support of operations when primary

equipment is inoperable in accordance with items 7a-g, pp. D-30 to

D-32, to Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

m. Augmentation Capabilities: Personnel are available and

trained to provide augmentation of ASOS observations in accordance

with augmentation procedures, items 8a-c, p. D-33 of Appendix D of

the ASOS Package.

n. Representativeness of Observations: Observations are

representative of the hydrometeorological conditions of the

observing location as determined by a period of observation of at

least 60 days prior to commissioning in accordance with Appendix

[[Page 19598]]

C and item 6e, pp. D-27 to D-29 of Appendix D of the ASOS Package.

* * * * *

II. Criteria for Modernization Actions Requiring Certification

(A) Criteria Common to all Types of Certifications (Except as

Noted)

1. Notification: Advanced notification and the expected date of

the proposed certification have been provided in the National

Implementation Plan.

2. Local Weather Characteristics and Weather Related Concerns: A

description of local weather characteristics and weather related

concerns which affect the weather services provided to the affected

service area is provided.

3. Comparison of Services: A comparison of services before and

after the proposed action demonstrates that all services currently

provided to the affected service area will continue to be provided.

4. Recent or Expected Modernization of NWS Operations in the

Affected Service Area: A description of recent or expected

modernization of NWS operations in the affected service area is

provided.

5. NEXRAD Network Coverage: NEXRAD network coverage or gaps in

coverage at 10,000 feet over the affected service area are

identified.

6. Air Safety Appraisal (applies only to relocation and closure

of field offices at an airport): Verification that there will be no

degradation of service that affects aircraft safety has been made by

conducting an air safety appraisal in consultation with the Federal

Aviation Administration.

7. Evaluation of Services to In-State Users (applies only to

relocation and closure of the only field office in a State):

Verification that there will be no degradation of weather services

provided to the State has been made by evaluating the effect on

weather services provided to In-State Users.

8. Liaison Officer: Arrangements have been made to retain a

Liaison Officer in the affected service area for at least two years

to provide timely information regarding the activities of the NWS

which may affect service to the community, including modernization

and restructuring; and to work with area weather service users,

including persons associated with general aviation, civil defense,

emergency preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the

provision of timely weather warnings and forecasts.

9. Meteorologist-In-Charge's (MIC) Recommendation to Certify:

The MIC of the future WFO that will have responsibility for the

affected service area has recommended certification in accordance

with 15 CFR 946.7(a).

10. Regional Director's Certification: The cognizant Regional

Director has approved the MIC's recommended certification of no

degradation of service to the affected service area in accordance

with 15 CFR 946.8.

* * * * *

(D) Proposed Modernization Criteria Unique to Automation

Certifications

1. Compliance with flight aviation rules (applies on airports

only): Consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

has verified that the weather services provided after the

commissioning of the relevant ASOS unit(s) will be in full

compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Regulations promulgated

by the FAA.

2. ASOS Commissioning: The relevant ASOS unit(s) have been

successfully commissioned in accordance with the criteria set forth

in section I.A.1 of this Appendix.

3. User Confirmation of Services: Any valid user complaints

related to actual system performance received since commissioning of

the ASOS have been satisfactorily resolved and the issues addressed

in the MIC's recommendation for certification.

4. Aviation Observation Requirement: At sites subject to

automation certification, all surface observations and reports

required for aviation services can be generated by an ASOS augmented

as necessary by non-NWS personnel.

a. The ASOS observation will be augmented/backed-up to the level

specified in Appendix B as described in the Aviation Service

Standards Summary chart, except that, if funds needed for such level

of service are not available at those airports listed as ``A'' or

``B'' Level Service airports in Appendix B, the ASOS will be

augmented/backed-up at the ``C'' Level Service until funds become

available.

b. The transition checklist has been signed by the appropriate

Region Systems Operations Division Chief.

5. General Surface Observation Requirement: The total

observations available are adequate to support the required

inventory of services to users in the affected area. All necessary

hydrometeorological data and information are available through ASOS

as augmented in accordance with this section, through those elements

reported as supplementary data by the relevant Weather Forecast

Office(s), or through other complementary sources. The adequacy of

the total surface observation is addressed in the MIC's

recommendation for certification.

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3. Appendix B is added to Part 946 to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 946--Airport Tables

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

``A'' Level Service Airports

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Akron, OH*................................... CAK.

Albany, NY*.................................. ALB.

Atlanta, GA* +............................... ATL.

Baltimore, MD*............................... BWI.

Boston, MA+ *................................ BOS.

Charlotte, NC+............................... CLT.

Chicago-O'Hare (AV), IL+ *................... ORD.

Cincinnati, OH+.............................. CVG.

Columbus, OH................................. CMH.

Dayton, OH*.................................. DAY.

Des Moines, IA*.............................. DSM.

Detroit, MI+ *............................... DTW.

Fairbanks, AK*............................... FAI.

Fresno, CA*.................................. FAT.

Greensboro, NC*.............................. GSO.

Hartford, CT*................................ BDL.

Indianapolis, IN*............................ IND.

Kansas City, MO*............................. MCI.

Lansing, MI*................................. LAN.

Las Vegas, NV................................ LAS.

Los Angeles (AV), CA+........................ LAX.

Louisville, KY*.............................. SDF.

Milwaukee, WI*............................... MKE.

Minneapolis, MN*............................. MSP.

Newark, NJ+ *................................ EWR.

Oklahoma City, OK*........................... OKC.

Phoenix, AZ+................................. PHX.

Portland, OR*................................ PDX.

Providence, RI*.............................. PVD.

Raleigh, NC*................................. RDU.

Richmond, VA*................................ RIC.

Rochester, NY*............................... ROC.

Rockford, IL*................................ RFD.

San Antonio, TX*............................. SAT.

San Diego, CA................................ SAN.

San Francisco, CA+ *......................... SFO.

Spokane, WA*................................. GEG.

Syracuse, NY*................................ SYR.

Tallahassee, FL.............................. TLH.

Tulsa, OK.................................... TUL.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

``B'' Level Service Airports

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baton Rouge, LA*............................. BTR.

Billings, MT*................................ BIL.

Charleston, WV*.............................. CRW.

Chattanooga, TN*............................. CHA.

Colorado Springs, CO......................... COS.

Daytona Beach, FL............................ DAB.

El Paso, TX.................................. ELP.

Flint, MI.................................... FNT.

Fort Wayne, IN............................... FWA.

Honolulu, HI................................. HNL.

Huntsville, AL*.............................. HSV.

Knoxville, TN*............................... TYS.

Lincoln, NE*................................. LNK.

Lubbock, TX.................................. LBB.

Madison, WI*................................. MSN.

Moline, IL*.................................. MLI.

Montgomery, AL*.............................. MGM.

Muskegon, MI*................................ MKG.

Norfolk, VA*................................. ORF.

Peoria, IL................................... PIA.

Savannah, GA*................................ SAV.

South Bend, IN*.............................. SBN.

Tucson, AZ................................... TUS.

West Palm Beach, FL*......................... PBI.

Youngstown, OH*.............................. YNG.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

``C'' Level Service Airports

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abilene, TX.................................. ABI.

Alltentown, PA............................... ABE.

Asheville, NC................................ AVL.

Athens, GA................................... AHN.

Atlantic City, NJ............................ ACY.

Augusta, GA.................................. AGS.

Austin, TX................................... AUS.

Bakerfield, CA............................... BFL.

Bridgeport, CT............................... BDR.

Bristol, TN.................................. TRI.

Casper, WY................................... CPR.

Columbia, MO................................. COU.

Columbus, GA................................. CSG.

Dubuque, IA.................................. DBQ.

Erie, PA..................................... ERI.

Eugene, OR................................... EUG.

Evansville, IN............................... EVV.

Fargo, ND.................................... FAR.

Fort Smith, AR............................... FSM.

Grand Island, NE............................. GRI.

Helena, MT................................... HLN.

Huntington, WV............................... HTS.

Kahului, HI.................................. OGG.

Key West, FL................................. EYW.

Lewiston, ID................................. LWS.

Lexington, KY................................ LEX.

Lynchburg, VA................................ LYH.

Macon, GA.................................... MCN.

Mansfield, OH................................ MFD.

Meridian, MS................................. MEI.

Olympia, WA.................................. OLM.

Port Arthur, TX.............................. BPT.

Portland, ME................................. PWM.

Rapid City, SD............................... RAP.

Redding, CA.................................. RDD.

Reno, NV..................................... RNO.

Roanoke, VA.................................. ROA.

Rochester, MN................................ RST.

Salem, OR.................................... SLE.

Santa Maria, CA.............................. SMX.

Sioux City, IA............................... SUX.

Springfield, IL.............................. SPI.

Stockton, CA................................. SCK.

Toledo, OH................................... TOL.

Waco, TX..................................... ACT.

Waterloo, IA................................. ALO.

Wilkes-Barre, PA............................. AVP.

Williamsport, PA............................. IPT.

Wilmington, DE............................... ILG.

Worcester, MA................................ ORH.

Yakima, WA................................... YKM.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

``D'' Level Service Airports

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alamosa, CO.................................. ALS.

Alpena, MI................................... APN.

Astoria, OR.................................. AST.

Beckley, WV.................................. BKW.

Caribou, ME.................................. CAR.

Concordia, KS................................ CNK.

Concord, NH.................................. CON.

Elkins, WV................................... EKN.

Ely, NV...................................... ELY.

Havre, MT.................................... HVR.

Homer, AK.................................... HOM.

Houghton Lake, MI............................ HTL.

Huron, SD.................................... HON.

International Falls, MN...................... INL.

Kalispell, MT................................ FCA.

Lander, WY................................... LND.

Norfolk, NE.................................. OFK.

Sault Ste. Marie, MI......................... SSM.

Scottsbluff, NE.............................. BFF.

Sheridan, WY................................. SHR.

St. Cloud, MN................................ STC.

Tupelo, MS................................... TUP.

Valentine, NE................................ VTN.

Victoria, TX................................. VCT.

Wichita Falls, TX............................ SPS.

Williston, ND................................ ISN.

Winnemucca, NV............................... WMC.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

+--Maximum activity (level 5) airport.

*--Long-line RVR designated site.

[FR Doc. 96-11010 Filed 5-1-96; 8:45 am]

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