Initial validation of a Convective Weather Avoidance Model (CWAM) in departure airspace

• CWAM for departure airspace was evaluated based on data from 5 days of operations in Chicago and 8 days in New York during the 2010 summer. •An automated weather decision classification algorithm was created •The classification error was estimated at ∼16 •The departure CWAM produces a reasonably well-calibrated WAF. But over-warning for high WAFs(esp. for New York) and under-warning in low WAFs was detected that matches with RAPT problems •Avoidance behavior — the WAF intersections for pilots avoiding WAF features with avoidance probability of 0.9 — was also analyzed: where possible, pilots seek to avoid all weather impacts, not simply to reduce them to an ‘acceptable’ level