AFMAN15-111 governs surface weather observations, including reporting, encoding, dissemination, and system back-up during controlled airfield hours.
View AFMAN15-111 on armypubs.army.mil
It prescribes basic observing fundamentals and terms and establishes aviation code forms for recording and disseminating weather observations. It requires applicable elements and remarks in supplemented observations and sets conditions for back-up methods and equipment.
Applies to: This publication applies to all civilian employees and uniformed members of the Regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, and those who are contractually obligated to abide by the terms of DAF publications.
When supplementing observations, weather personnel will ensure that all applicable element entries are made in the body of the observation along with accompanying remarks.
Sandstorms/Dust Storms will be reported whenever a local warning for the conditions is required.
Back-up is required during controlled airfield hours and may be required during uncontrolled airfield hours when elements triggering weather warnings are erroneously reported and/or when required for supplementation criteria above; otherwise, there is no requirement to back-up the system/sensor outside controlled airfield hours.
Weather personnel will not replace the entire automated observation with a manual observation when backing-up malfunctioning sensors, but will follow guidance in Attachment 2 and Attachment 3 and report the individual required elements.
Unrepresentative values from any equipment, regardless of the method used, will not be included in the observation and will be considered missing if they cannot be determined through other methods.