Low visibility and ceiling forecasts at Schiphol; Part 1-assessment of the current system

Accurate, reliable and unambiguous information concerning actual and expected low visibility conditions is very important for the available operational capacity at Schiphol airport. Improving the forecasts for low visibility procedure (LVP) events at Schiphol is therefore the main goal of this project.

KNMI has been responsible for the aeronautical meteorological service provision for the Netherlands for almost 70 years. Currently, several products for LVP conditions are issued for the use at the airport, which should be modified to meet with the user-specific needs. Schiphol airport has specified a set of important thresholds for visibility and cloud base and implemented these limits in the so-called “Beperkt Zicht Operaties” (Dutch for Reduced Visibility Operations) or BZO phases. The forecast system will be optimised for these BZO phases. Finally, the project will deliver a new improved forecast service tailored to the specific needs of Airport Authorities, Air Traffic Control and KLM airlines.

Insight in the current prediction system will allow us in the sequel of the project, to evaluate the improvements made in perspective to the present situation. This interim report will concentrate on the current system and the key issues are: the existing forecast suite, the various visibility parameters, climatology and verification.