FAA air traffic control will continue to work with meteorologists

As the two agencies renegotiated their contract, the FAA said Wednesday it will not end its more than 40-year partnership with the NWS. A recent news release from the National Weather Service Employees Organization said the meteorologists at each of the 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers would be replaced with automated software and cited potential public safety concerns.

“The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Weather Service will continue our long-standing partnership to provide weather services to ensure the safety of the National Airspace System,” an FAA spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement.

Through computer models, radar and satellite data, these meteorologists currently provide daily briefings and real-time advice on rapidly evolving weather conditions to assist air traffic control in assessing routes.