FPAW 2026 Fall Meeting

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Session 4: Predicting the Low Altitude Environment
(Mike Robinson/Aeris LLC and David Dillahunt/SWA)

• This session will examine needs, gaps, lessons learned, opportunities, and active efforts for advancing predictive solutions for low-altitude aviation weather hazards and constraints
• Operations ranging from Part 121 (commercial air carrier) to UAS services and future AAM will be examined in the context of their low altitude forecast needs, and in typical FPAW fashion, discussion topics will be prioritized on the fly through shared conversations between panelists and the audience
• In addition to the Session Co-Leads, expected presenters/panelists include TBD.

Session 5: Low Altitude Operator Panel
(David Strand/MITRE)

• This session will feature discussions from a sampling of aircraft operators whose domain is primarily or exclusively in the lower 5,000 feet of the atmosphere
• Panelists, who will come from and represent UAS, EVTOL/AAM, EMS, and light fixed-wing aircraft operators, will discuss their unique weather challenges in both the planning and execution of their flight operations
• Sufficient time will be allocated for robust dialog between the audience and panelists regarding their weather challenges and requirements
• In addition to the Session Lead, expected panelists include TBD.

Session 6: Weather Information for Pilots – Tools, Resources and Human Factors
(Ian Johnson/FAA and John Kleber/ERAU)

• The goal of this session will be to examine, through the lens of human factors, how today’s aviation weather information products and systems may need to evolve to support emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations
• The Session Co-Leads and presenters will explore current aviation weather capabilities, how AAM changes the weather conversation, and the evolving weather information needs of future operations
• In addition to the Session Co-Leads, expected presenters/panelists include TBD.

Session 7: Special Topics - FAA
(Joel Siegel/FAA, Starr McGettigan/FAA and Doug Murphy/FAA)

• Joel will provide FPAW with an update on the recently launched Surface Weather Status Dashboard, which provides users with near-real time information on the health of automated weather stations in the NAS via a convenient, widely available website
• Starr and Doug will provide an update on the FAA in general, and the FAA Wx COI in particular, to the FPAW audience

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Session 8: Perspectives on How to Close the Low Altitude Weather Information Gap
(Michelle Duquette/3 MAD Air and Matt Fronzak/MITRE)

• Session Co-Lead Michelle Duquette will lead a conversation with select Co-Leads from Sessions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, concerning the low altitude weather information gaps identified during each of their sessions
• The goal of this session will be to provide the building blocks for Session 9 that follows
• Audience participation is not just encouraged, it is required!
• In addition to the Session Co-Leads, expected presenters/panelists include Mike Splitt/FIT, Scott Landolt/NCAR, Mike Robinson/Aeris LLC, David Strand/MITRE and Ian Johnson/FAA

Session 9: Consensus Building – Synthesizing Ideas in Support of Low Altitude Operations
(Joel Siegel/FAA and Beth Welliver/Joby Aviation)

• This session will be an interactive, open forum and group discussion to generate ideas for FPAW's support of aviation operations in the low altitude environment
• What should we focus on as a community? Where should we direct our efforts and attention? 

Lunch Session: Special Topics – FPAW
(Matt Fronzak/MITRE and Nathan Polderman/UAL)

• Grab a bite to eat, bring it back to your seat, and get ready for an FPAW Organizational Update and a Mini-Planning Meeting, during which we will discuss topics such as new members of the FPAW Steering Committee and the next 1-2 FPAW meetings

FPAW Special Event – Tour of the Udvar-Hazy Center
(Mark Huberdeau/MITRE (ret.))

• Longtime FPAW member Mark Huberdeau, who is also a long-time volunteer docent at the National Air and Space Museums, will lead FPAW members on a tour of the Udvar-Hazy Center, the annex of the National Air and Space Museum located adjacent to Dulles Airport (KIAD)
• The tour will start promptly at 2:00 PM and should last 90-120 minutes. Sign-up sheets will be available on the table either in or Immediately outside the meeting room)
• If you’re leaving town immediately after the tour, plan your departing flight from KIAD – you’ll only be 10-15 minutes away by public transportation (bus) from the front of the airport!