Pam. Por Amount +$570 Equipment replacement ........ Procurement of replacement vehicles necessary for the operation of NOAA programs has increased by $55,100. The replacement vehicles include 35 carry-alls ($31,500); 17 sedan-delivery vehicles ($4,200); 11 four-wheel drive trucks ($12,700); and three three-ton trucks ($6,700). Special electrical equipment, necessary for the operation of NOAA's weather radar and fishery research programs, requires replacement at an increase of $165,000. A refrigeration unit at the Pacific Utilization Research Center must be replaced at an increased cost of $47,000. NOAA's weather radar units frequently require repair and replacement parts due to continual and heavy use. Recurring procurements of rotating coupler joints and bull-gears are necessary for the earlier constructed radar stations and because these parts must be specially manufactured, their cost has increased by $118,000. Equipment of a scientific and highly technological nature is utilized by NOAA's air quality testing, weather reporting and assessment, fishery research and weather satellite programs. This equipment is used and replaced on a recurring basis and each piece can be characterized as an "off-the-shelf” item. Increases for this equipment amount to $285,100 and include: For Remote Sensing Research: scanner, transponder, lasers, amplifiers, spectrum analyzer, ($41,400); NOAA's weather and atmospheric observation program utilizes and requires photographic equipment on a recurring basis. The costs of purchasing a film processor, camera, and slide projectors have increased by $7,900. The increased costs of surveying equipment utilized by NOAA amount to $26,800 and include Bilby steel towers, portable towers, theodolites and laser prisms. Miscellaneous equipment increases include scientific and technical (library) books for permanent collections ($13,300) and equipment replacement parts for weather observation equipment ($16,800). NOAA-33 Parm. Amount Other decreases One less compensable day ..... Subtotal, other decreases ......... 67 -$948 .100 ...................... .......................... ................................ ................ ........... ................................................... .948 One less compensable day ......... The cost of one less compensable day in fiscal 1977 compared to fiscal 1976 was calculated by dividing the fiscal 1976 estimate for personnel compensation and benefits by 262 compensable days. ....... ........ 100 Personnel benefits ... Non-recurring programs ............ The 1976 increase of 10 positions and $3,000,000 to acquire basic data on the environment at deep ocean manganese nodule mining sites is non-recurring in FY 1977. In 1976, an increase of $1,000,000 was appropriated to develop architectural and engineering studies for a new NOAA facility at Sand Point, Seattle, Washington. This increase is non-recurring in 1977. New methods of performing existing tasks and improved productivity have enabled NOAA to reduce its requirements as follows: The conversion from manual to computer plotting of the surface analyses at the National Meteorological Center permits the elimination of 10 positions with a savings of $161,000. The continued application of automation techniques at observing sites permit the elimination of 25 positions at Weather Service offices or Forecast offices with a savings of $367,000. Streamlining of maintenance procedures has increased the productivity of Electronic Technicians with the resulting savings of two positions and $24,000. NOAA-34 Pam. Por. Amount In a number of areas such as regional offices, Weather Services Forecast Offices and Weather Services Offices improved management techniques have allowed the NWS to maintain current services at their required levels with fewer personnel, thus saving 20 positions and $309,000. -$5,830 Non-recurring capital outlay ..... The 1975 increase for modernization of the Research Flight Facility included $4,020,000 for non-recurring items. The 1976 increase to modify Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar installations includes $1,255,000 for non-recurring items. An increase of $265,000, requested in 1975 to acquire the Video Integrator and Processor (VIP), is non-recurring in 1977. The 1975 increase to procure and install a long-range radar in south-central New York included $290,000 which is non-recurring in 1977. The field phase of the GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE) has been completed, and the emphasis of the Global Atmospheric Research Program is shifting to analysis and research of the data collected. A transfer of funds within the GARP base program is now required to continue the detailed planning, development and testing of data acquisition, processing and archiving systems, and to commence procurement of long lead time items needed to conduct the First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) which is expected to begin its field phase in late 1978. NOAA-35 Goals: To provide accurate and timely charts and other materials required for safe efficient management and use of the National Airspace System (NAS) for civil and military aviation; and to meet new requirements generated by the rapid advance of navigational systems and related equipment, aircraft design and performance, air traffic control technology and air safety considerations. Objectives: To develop and implement an automated chart production system to increase productivity without adding staff; to improve the productivity and reliability of the program by replacing obsolete and wom-out equipment; and to develop more effective production techniques and improved means of portraying information. Base Program The aeronautical charts produced by NOAA are essential to the National Aviation System. They are the primary means of providing the air traffic controllers, the Federal Aviation Administration, and users of the NAS with current graphic and narrative descriptions of: Federal airways, navigation facilities, airports, landing patterns, safe operating procedures, air traffic rules and regulations, and services offered by the air traffic control system in a form suitable for operational use. It is essential that these charts be updated regularly to reflect accurate information for safe navigation by both civil and military aircraft. Visual charting - Visual charts meet the needs of pilots flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). They provide speedy recognition of information critical to pilot orientation and safety. The charts have a topographic base emphasizing natural and man-made features of importance to VFR flight. In addition, features such as airways, airports, radio facilities, hazards, restricted and prohibited areas, and cartographic representation of Federal Aviation Regulations are shown. The visual charting program includes the issuance of over two million charts a year in the following series: Instrument charting - Charts of this type are required by pilots flying under Instrument Flight Rules. They depict the complex enroute airway structure, the transition routes, procedures between the enroute structure and terminals, and the instrument approach procedures for landing at airports. Instrument charts must be revised according to the cycle prescribed by Federal Air Regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization to reflect all new and revised data since the previous amendment date. The instrument charting program includes issuance of about 35 million charts in the following series: |