El Paso, TX

Weather Forecast Office

11th Southwest Aviation Weather Safety Workshop

Southwest Aviation Weather Safety Workshop 11

About

Friday Presentations

Saturday Presentations

Committee

Photos

About the Southwest Aviation Weather Safety Workshop

March 28-29, 2025

Tech20 Learning Center

10751 Montana Ave

El Paso, Texas

Registration is now open! Free to attend!

We are excited to publish our conference agenda, featuring speakers from all across the aviation enterprise! Come and join members of the National Weather Service, El Paso International Airport, NTSB, and FAA Safety Team as we discuss all aspects of weather safety in the world of aviation. We will showcase the latest happenings and forecast techniques available to make pilots smarter and more confident in the cockpit. Friday’s topics will focus on helping weather forecasters understand and better meet the needs of the aviation community by utilizing the latest tools, technology and techniques in the forecast process. Saturday’s topics will be centered around aviation weather hazard recognition, mitigation and avoidance, as well as the effective use of aviation weather data, products, and websites. We are working with the FAA Safety Team to secure WINGS credit for pilots.

SAWS XI Registration Form - Sign Up Today!

To review the agendas from previous SAWS Workshops please visit: https://www.weather.gov/psr/saws and https://www.weather.gov/zla/saws10.

Support, Safety, Service

Please join the National Weather Service as we bring together the Southwest US aviation and weather forecasting communities to promote aviation safety and productivity through improved weather awareness and forecasting services. This event will be free of charge and will consist of:

Aviation Weather Forecasting Workshop (Friday March 28th, 2025) - The first day of the workshop will focus on meeting the needs of Aviation Weather Forecasters. It will feature best practices in aviation weather forecasting, infusing new technology into the forecast process, customer needs, and discussions on weather service innovation. Pilots are welcome on this day to the extent they would like to participate, and we will appreciate their insights in discussions. We also anticipate FAA Safety Team participation.
Social Dinner (Friday evening) - Everyone with an interest in southwest US aviation and aviation weather services is welcome to join us for a casual evening of networking and relationship building. Dinner place will be announced soon.
Aviator and Controller Weather Workshop (Saturday March 29th, 2025) - The second day of the workshop will focus on meeting aviator and air traffic controller needs for weather safety information, including presentations on aviation weather hazard recognition, mitigation, and avoidance; as well as tips on how to effectively use and understand aviation weather data, products, and websites.

Hotel accommodations are available at Holiday Inn El Paso Airport, Hyatt Place El Paso Airport, Best Western Plus El Paso Airport, and Wyndham El Paso Airport. Government Lodging Rate is $110 and Local Meals and Incidentals Rate is $68 per day. The hotels listed are within walking distance of El Paso International Airport and several dining options, but a 5-6 mile drive to the conference venue. Carpooling opportunities will be organized by the SAWS XI Planning Team.

The SAWS 11 Workshop is brought to you by the National Weather Service Forecast Offices in Santa Teresa, NM. Please monitor our website (https://www.weather.gov/epz/saws11) for updates, and feel free to email us at sr.saws.workshop@noaa.gov if you have questions.

Follow the event as it unfolds on Facebook and Twitter (X) at @NWSElPaso and with #SAWS11

For additional information please contact the workshop organizers at sr.saws.workshop@noaa.gov.

Aviation Weather Forecasting Workshop Agenda

Friday March 28th, 2025

Follow the event as it unfolds on Facebook and Twitter (X) at @NWSElPaso

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address
Jennifer Stroozas, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aviation Weather Center

8:30 - 9:00 AM A General Aviation User’s Perspective of Aviation Forecast Products
Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

9:00 - 9:30 AM The Role of the National Aviation Meteorologist at the FAA Command Center
Kenneth Widelski, National Aviation Meteorologist, FAA Command Center virtual

9:30 - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 - 10:15 AM Aviation Climatology for El Paso, Texas
Katie Slusher, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

10:15 - 10:45 AM Presentation Title TBD
Phil Shafer, Meteorologist, Meteorological Development Laboratory (virtual)

10:45 - 11:15 AM Overview of Meteorological Operations at White Sands Missile Range
Blaine Thomas, Senior Meteorologist, White Sands Test Center

11:15 -11:45 AM Presentation Title TBD
Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

11:45 - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 PM SIGMET Climatology of the Western United States
Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

1:30 - 2:00 PM Hazards Associated with Convection
Harrison Sincavage, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

2:00 - 2:30 PM Ceiling and Visibility Forecast Verification in the SW United States
Charles Kluepfel, Meteorologist, NWS HQ Performance and Evaluation Branch

2:30 - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM U.S. Air Force Weather Forecasting
Connor Vincent, Staff Sergeant, 377th Test Support Squadron/TSOW

3:15 - 3:45 PM Illuminating the CWSU: A Guiding Light for the NWS Future
Kenneth Wohl, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Seattle

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Discussion

Aviator and Controller Weather Workshop Agenda

Saturday March 29th, 2025

Follow the event as it unfolds on Facebook and Twitter (X) at @NWSElPaso

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address
Paul Witsamin and Scott Birch, Regional Aviation Meteorologists, NWS

8:30 - 9:00 AM Risk Assessment in Aeronautical Decision Making
Rhon Williams, Retired, FAA Safety Team Representative

9:00 - 9:30 AM Improving Pilots' Awareness of CWSU Products and Social Media Outreach
Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

9:30 - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 - 10:15 AM Wind-Related Accidents and Mountain West NTSB Investigations
Paul Suffern, Senior Meteorologist Investigator, NTSB

10:15 - 10:45 AM Harnessing FIS-B: Weather Safety in Aviation Through Data-Driven Decisions
Joe Jurecka, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

10:45 - 11:45 AM ATIS/ASOS - Fact or Fiction
Fred Gibbs, NAFI Master Flight Instructor

11:45 - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 PM Twenty-First Century Pilot Weather Briefing
Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

1:30 - 2:00 PM Presentation Title TBD
Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

2:00 - 2:30 PM PROB30 in the Southwest: Best Practices and Operational Use
Connor Dennhardt, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

2:30 - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM What the Contract Weather Observers Want You To Know
Daniel Dexter, Senior Weather Observer, El Paso International Airport

3:15 - 3:45 PM Presentation Title TBD
Joachim Lohn-Jaramillo, Title, Spaceport America

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Discussion

SAWS 11 Committee Members

Connor Dennhardt, WFO El Paso TX, Connor.Dennhardt@noaa.gov (Chair)

Kerwyn Texeira, Aviation Weather Center, Kerwyn.Texeira@noaa.gov

Joe Jurecka, WFO Lubbock TX, Joe.Jurecka@noaa.gov

Aaron Hardin, WFO Tucson AZ, Aaron.Hardin@noaa.gov

Chris Johnson, WFO Reno NV, Christopher.Johnston@noaa.gov

Matthew Fazal, WFO Elko NV, Massoud.Fazal@noaa.gov

Scott Birch, Western Region Headquarters, Salt Lake City UT, Scott.Birch@noaa.gov

Paul Witsaman, Southern Region Headquarters, Fort Worth TX, Paul.Witsaman@noaa.gov

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address
Jennifer Stroozas, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aviation Weather Center

8:30 - 9:00 AM A General Aviation User’s Perspective of Aviation Forecast Products
Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

9:00 - 9:30 AM The Role of the National Aviation Meteorologist at the FAA Command Center
Kenneth Widelski, National Aviation Meteorologist, FAA Command Center virtual

9:30 - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 - 10:15 AM Aviation Climatology for El Paso, Texas
Katie Slusher, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

10:15 - 10:45 AM Presentation Title TBD
Phil Shafer, Meteorologist, Meteorological Development Laboratory (virtual)

10:45 - 11:15 AM Overview of Meteorological Operations at White Sands Missile Range
Blaine Thomas, Senior Meteorologist, White Sands Test Center

11:15 -11:45 AM Presentation Title TBD
Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

11:45 - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 PM SIGMET Climatology of the Western United States
Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

1:30 - 2:00 PM Hazards Associated with Convection
Harrison Sincavage, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

2:00 - 2:30 PM Ceiling and Visibility Forecast Verification in the SW United States
Charles Kluepfel, Meteorologist, NWS HQ Performance and Evaluation Branch

2:30 - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM U.S. Air Force Weather Forecasting
Connor Vincent, Staff Sergeant, 377th Test Support Squadron/TSOW

3:15 - 3:45 PM Illuminating the CWSU: A Guiding Light for the NWS Future
Kenneth Wohl, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Seattle

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Discussion

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address
Paul Witsamin and Scott Birch, Regional Aviation Meteorologists, NWS

8:30 - 9:00 AM Risk Assessment in Aeronautical Decision Making
Rhon Williams, Retired, FAA Safety Team Representative

9:00 - 9:30 AM Improving Pilots' Awareness of CWSU Products and Social Media Outreach
Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

9:30 - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 - 10:15 AM Wind-Related Accidents and Mountain West NTSB Investigations
Paul Suffern, Senior Meteorologist Investigator, NTSB

10:15 - 10:45 AM Harnessing FIS-B: Weather Safety in Aviation Through Data-Driven Decisions
Joe Jurecka, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

10:45 - 11:45 AM ATIS/ASOS - Fact or Fiction
Fred Gibbs, NAFI Master Flight Instructor

11:45 - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 PM Twenty-First Century Pilot Weather Briefing
Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

1:30 - 2:00 PM Presentation Title TBD
Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

2:00 - 2:30 PM PROB30 in the Southwest: Best Practices and Operational Use
Connor Dennhardt, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

2:30 - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM What the Contract Weather Observers Want You To Know
Daniel Dexter, Senior Weather Observer, El Paso International Airport

3:15 - 3:45 PM Presentation Title TBD
Joachim Lohn-Jaramillo, Title, Spaceport America

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Discussion

SAWS 11 Committee Members

SAWS 11 Photos

Coming Soon!

11th Southwest Aviation Weather Safety Workshop

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address Jennifer Stroozas, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aviation Weather Center

8:30 - 9:00 AM A General Aviation User’s Perspective of Aviation Forecast Products Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

9:00 - 9:30 AM The Role of the National Aviation Meteorologist at the FAA Command Center Kenneth Widelski, National Aviation Meteorologist, FAA Command Center virtual

9:30 - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 - 10:15 AM Aviation Climatology for El Paso, Texas Katie Slusher, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

10:15 - 10:45 AM Presentation Title TBD Phil Shafer, Meteorologist, Meteorological Development Laboratory (virtual)

10:45 - 11:15 AM Overview of Meteorological Operations at White Sands Missile Range Blaine Thomas, Senior Meteorologist, White Sands Test Center

11:15 -11:45 AM Presentation Title TBD Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

11:45 - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 PM SIGMET Climatology of the Western United States Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

1:30 - 2:00 PM Hazards Associated with Convection Harrison Sincavage, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

2:00 - 2:30 PM Ceiling and Visibility Forecast Verification in the SW United States Charles Kluepfel, Meteorologist, NWS HQ Performance and Evaluation Branch

2:30 - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM U.S. Air Force Weather Forecasting Connor Vincent, Staff Sergeant, 377th Test Support Squadron/TSOW

3:15 - 3:45 PM Illuminating the CWSU: A Guiding Light for the NWS Future Kenneth Wohl, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Seattle

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Discussion

8:00 - 8:15 AM Introduction

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address Paul Witsamin and Scott Birch, Regional Aviation Meteorologists, NWS

8:30 - 9:00 AM Risk Assessment in Aeronautical Decision Making Rhon Williams, Retired, FAA Safety Team Representative

9:00 - 9:30 AM Improving Pilots' Awareness of CWSU Products and Social Media Outreach Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

9:30 - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 - 10:15 AM Wind-Related Accidents and Mountain West NTSB Investigations Paul Suffern, Senior Meteorologist Investigator, NTSB

10:15 - 10:45 AM Harnessing FIS-B: Weather Safety in Aviation Through Data-Driven Decisions Joe Jurecka, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

10:45 - 11:45 AM ATIS/ASOS - Fact or Fiction Fred Gibbs, NAFI Master Flight Instructor

11:45 - 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 - 1:30 PM Twenty-First Century Pilot Weather Briefing Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

1:30 - 2:00 PM Presentation Title TBD Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

2:00 - 2:30 PM PROB30 in the Southwest: Best Practices and Operational Use Connor Dennhardt, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

2:30 - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM What the Contract Weather Observers Want You To Know Daniel Dexter, Senior Weather Observer, El Paso International Airport

3:15 - 3:45 PM Presentation Title TBD Joachim Lohn-Jaramillo, Title, Spaceport America

3:45 - 4:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Discussion

SAWS 11 Committee Members

SAWS 11 Photos

Coming Soon!

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address
Jennifer Stroozas, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Aviation Weather Center

8:30 - 9:00 AM A General Aviation User’s Perspective of Aviation Forecast Products
Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

9:00 - 9:30 AM The Role of the National Aviation Meteorologist at the FAA Command Center
Kenneth Widelski, National Aviation Meteorologist, FAA Command Center virtual

9:45 - 10:15 AM Aviation Climatology for El Paso, Texas
Katie Slusher, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

10:15 - 10:45 AM Presentation Title TBD
Phil Shafer, Meteorologist, Meteorological Development Laboratory (virtual)

10:45 - 11:15 AM Overview of Meteorological Operations at White Sands Missile Range
Blaine Thomas, Senior Meteorologist, White Sands Test Center

11:15 -11:45 AM Presentation Title TBD
Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

1:00 - 1:30 PM SIGMET Climatology of the Western United States
Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

1:30 - 2:00 PM Hazards Associated with Convection
Harrison Sincavage, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

2:00 - 2:30 PM Ceiling and Visibility Forecast Verification in the SW United States
Charles Kluepfel, Meteorologist, NWS HQ Performance and Evaluation Branch

2:45 - 3:15 PM U.S. Air Force Weather Forecasting
Connor Vincent, Staff Sergeant, 377th Test Support Squadron/TSOW

3:15 - 3:45 PM Illuminating the CWSU: A Guiding Light for the NWS Future
Kenneth Wohl, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Seattle

8:15 - 8:30AM Keynote Address
Paul Witsamin and Scott Birch, Regional Aviation Meteorologists, NWS

8:30 - 9:00 AM Risk Assessment in Aeronautical Decision Making
Rhon Williams, Retired, FAA Safety Team Representative

9:00 - 9:30 AM Improving Pilots' Awareness of CWSU Products and Social Media Outreach
Cameron Negrete, Meteorologist, NWS CWSU Salt Lake City

9:45 - 10:15 AM Wind-Related Accidents and Mountain West NTSB Investigations
Paul Suffern, Senior Meteorologist Investigator, NTSB

10:15 - 10:45 AM Harnessing FIS-B: Weather Safety in Aviation Through Data-Driven Decisions
Joe Jurecka, Meteorologist, NWS WFO Lubbock

10:45 - 11:45 AM ATIS/ASOS - Fact or Fiction
Fred Gibbs, NAFI Master Flight Instructor

1:00 - 1:30 PM Twenty-First Century Pilot Weather Briefing
Terry Lankford, Retired, FAA Flight Service Station

1:30 - 2:00 PM Presentation Title TBD
Speaker, Title, Aviation Weather Center

2:00 - 2:30 PM PROB30 in the Southwest: Best Practices and Operational Use
Connor Dennhardt, Meteorologist, NWS WFO El Paso

2:45 - 3:15 PM What the Contract Weather Observers Want You To Know
Daniel Dexter, Senior Weather Observer, El Paso International Airport

3:15 - 3:45 PM Presentation Title TBD
Joachim Lohn-Jaramillo, Title, Spaceport America