NWSEO Endorses the National Climate Service Roll Out
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NWSEO President Dan Sobien and Vice President Bill Hopkins participated in the unveiling of the National Climate Service on Monday February 8, 2010. NWSEO's collaboration on the design of the NCS secured that the products, services and the role of the National Weather Service will be preserved as will our jobs.
"The key issue is the National Climate Service and National Weather Service will work hand in hand," said Dan Sobien. "Our discussions with NOAA assures that NWS will retain its traditional climate related products and services, including almost all of the observation network and the Climate Prediction Center."
NWSEO and NOAA continue discussions on the National Climate Service and how it will interact with the NWS. However, NWSEO is in general agreement with the Department of Commerce and NOAA and is supportive of their efforts to develop a National Climate Service. "NWS employees and our products and services will not be affected in any significant way," stated President Sobien.
CWSU Update - New Concept Test at Three Cities
NWSEO's diligent work to prevent the consolidation of CWSU is showing results. The NWS delivery of DemVal has been put on hold and NWSEO has a commitment that new resources (including FTEs) will be placed at the CWSUs or otherwise used in the aviation program.
NWSEO and NWS are working together to develop solutions to weather related aviation problems. This includes special projects with increased NWS personnel at the CWSU and WFOs in New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago. Each city has increased its NWS personnel by three employees. In New York City, the early results of this effort are extremely encouraging with a 50 percent decrease in weather related flight delays during the trial period over the same time last year. "Our confidence is growing that the CWSUs specifically, and the NWS aviation program in general, will be modernized and enhanced in a manner that will save lives, save money and protect our jobs. We look forward to working with the administration on bringing the NWS Aviation Program into the NEXTGEN era," stated President Sobien. "Needless to say, the increased NWS personnel in the New York City area are much needed and very well received."
The opportunity for increased personnel at CWSUs and the design of the NCS is a demonstration of recent collaborative work between NWSEO, DOC and NOAA.
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