NAV CANADA, the country’s provider of civil air navigation services, will be installing a new AWOS at Prince George, BC. CYXS

Features of this new AWOS include the following:
• Ice-resistant anemometer;
• Advanced laser ceilometer;
• New Voice Generator Sub-System (VGSS) for VHF radio broadcast of AWOS information;
• Reporting of density altitude;
• Thunderstorm reporting;
• Reporting of Runway Visual Range (RVR), where available;
• Reporting of obstructions to vision (haze, mist, fog, freezing fog and blowing snow); and
• Improved capability to report more information in the ‘Remarks’ portion of the METAR.

In addition, new digital aviation weather cameras will be installed at the airport (published in the CFS Aerodrome Directory under FLT PLN / WX as “WxCam”). These new weather cameras provide pilots with high resolution images of areas surrounding the airport, updated every ten minutes, which they can compare with reference images taken in clear weather. The reference images include distances and elevations of key landmarks to assist pilots in assessing weather conditions at and in the vicinity of the airport. The images are available on the NAV CANADA Aviation Weather Web Site under “Wx Cams”.
For more information on the new AWOS and weather cameras, see the CFS General Section under FLIGHT PLANNING.
This change will take effect October 22, 2009 at 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The appropriate aeronautical publications will be amended.