LSC Weather Team
Ryan Kokalj, Rick Cieplik, Griff Gettemy
October 2021
After determining the need to address weather in a more comprehensive way, the ZAU Local Safety Council (LSC) created a collaborative workgroup. In collaboration with NATCA and facility management, the LSC Weather Team was created. Members include Ryan Kokalj, Rick Cieplik, and Griff Gettemy.
One of the initial successes of the LSC Weather Team included a building-wide analysis of NEXRAD weather altitude filter settings to ensure that ZAU’s controllers are displaying precipitation that is applicable to them at their sector. LSC Weather Team also reviewed the weather products available on the WARP screens; the large TV monitors above each area’s Supervisor desk. They determined how best to display information that is most applicable to each area, including combining weather products onto several easy-to-use displays. They logged in, set up, and saved the settings into each area’s WARP display, and created the laminated legends attached to each large display.
The most significant accomplishment thus far is the creation of Weather Week. The team developed training curriculum for use during Stage 2 and Stage 3. It provides an entire week dedicated to weather, far exceeding the national training requirements. The Stage 3 training is area-specific. By providing in-depth instruction at these stages of training, the developmental controller begins positional training with a greater experience base.
Creation of this curriculum was quite challenging. Members often worked on their breaks conducting research, building presentations and discussing strategies. COVID-19 added a greater complication by requiring collaboration from a distance. Alternate schedules added challenges. Most of the Stage 3 curriculum and TTL scenario creation was completed by LSC Weather team members working on their own time.
The LSC views the Weather Team as an integral part of the facility’s movement toward increased weather knowledge and execution of responsibilities.