During the peak summer travel season, high temperatures have become the most troublesome “invisible capacity killer” for airlines. For every 1°C increase in temperature, aircraft engine thrust decreases correspondingly, limiting the Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW). Airlines are forced to adopt a “one-size-fits-all” conservative weight limit, resulting in tens of thousands of yuan in losses per single flight, with cumulative losses across the national route network being enormous.
To overcome the above challenges, Zhongke Tianji officially released its aviation weather solution. Relying on its independently developed global-regional integrated numerical prediction model SD3, and with 1-kilometer runway-level temperature forecasting as the core, it helps airlines achieve precise control of takeoff weight, shifting from “passive load reduction” to “active load control.”
Runway-Level Temperature Forecast: Three-Stage Closed Loop, Unleashing Every Ton of Payload
Zhongke Tianji provides airlines with high-resolution meteorological data centered on 2-meter temperature, with a spatial resolution of 1 kilometer in key areas, updated hourly or every 15 minutes as an option, issued twice daily, with forecast coverage spanning nowcasting (0-2 hours), short-to-medium range (1-10 days), and long range (11-46 days). It can be integrated into airline flight planning systems via API.
At the application level, Tianji data drives a three-stage closed loop before aircraft takeoff:
1. 24-48 hours before takeoff: The operations control center obtains the runway temperature curve, identifies high-temperature windows, and adjusts flight schedules, changes aircraft types, or modifies ticket sales strategies in advance to avoid last-minute passivity.
2. 2-6 hours before takeoff: Dispatchers use Tianji’s precise temperature, wind, and air pressure values as input parameters to calculate the Maximum Allowable Takeoff Weight (MTOW), releasing more payload within the safety margin.
3. 30 minutes before takeoff: Tianji provides the final runway temperature update, and performance tools use this to determine takeoff speeds (V1, Vr, V2) and thrust settings, ensuring a dynamic balance between safety and efficiency.
Beyond Airlines: Serving the Entire Chain of Airports and Air Traffic Control
With its independently developed global-regional integrated numerical prediction model SD3, Zhongke Tianji can simultaneously meet the operational needs of three dimensions, providing a high-quality data foundation for the three core roles in aviation weather services.
Overall Architecture of Zhongke Tianji Aviation Weather Services
For airport groups, Tianji provides localized refined forecasting services—temperature at 1km resolution and wind, air pressure, humidity, and cloud cover at 2.5km resolution, output every 15 minutes. This supports the creation of aviation TAF reports, as well as the issuance of airport alerts and weather warnings.
Details of Zhongke Tianji Aviation Weather Data Package
For airports and air traffic control, Tianji provides 6-hourly typhoon forecasts for the Western Pacific and global 12km dust forecasts, with a maximum lead time of 30 days, supporting early warning and emergency decision-making under extreme weather conditions.
Typhoon & Dust Forecast
The Tianji visualization platform renders high-resolution model data into products such as total precipitation, radar reflectivity, and satellite cloud imagery. Forecasters can complete data viewing and analysis in one stop, significantly improving daily operational efficiency.
Tomorrow’s Satellite Cloud Imagery & Tomorrow’s Radar Reflectivity Simulation
Relying on the SD3 global-regional integrated numerical prediction model and the Sugon domestic heterogeneous computing infrastructure, Zhongke Tianji is transforming high-precision meteorological data into quantifiable safety and revenue for the aviation industry, ensuring every takeoff is supported by accurate weather data and every ton of payload is fully utilized.
