Narrative:

Contract WX service provides computerized WX information service through contracts with the state of wi, DOT and others, for use in pilot preflight self briefs. For at least 1 1/2 yrs (encompassing 2 thunderstorm seasons) there has been a defect in the soft ware which prevents pilots from receiving critical information. A common method of requesting information using the system is to request information by state (ie, sa, wi; ft, ia; etc). When corrective SIGMET information for wi, is requested (wst wi) two copies of corrective sigmets for the western USA is received (1000 mi west of wi) but none for the central USA (WX service code mkcc wst). This is dangerous and misleading to the pilot operating in wi, and needs to be corrected before another thunderstorm 'season' begins. This potentially very hazardous situation had been allowed to exist for far too long. In the summer of 1990, I contacted contract WX services by phone in minneapolis, mn, to make them aware of the problem and the need to correct it. Approximately 3 months ago, I informed the wi bureau of aeronautics of the problem with the product they are purchasing. Callback conversation with the contract WX service revealed the following information. Callback on an 800 number given by the reporter revealed that they would be happy to help the reporter get the needed WX briefing and that there is an access code that would give the information in question automatically.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL PLT COMPLAINT ABOUT DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING A COMPUTERIZED CONTRACT WX INFORMATION SERVICE.

Narrative: CONTRACT WX SVC PROVIDES COMPUTERIZED WX INFO SVC THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH THE STATE OF WI, DOT AND OTHERS, FOR USE IN PLT PREFLT SELF BRIEFS. FOR AT LEAST 1 1/2 YRS (ENCOMPASSING 2 TSTM SEASONS) THERE HAS BEEN A DEFECT IN THE SOFT WARE WHICH PREVENTS PLTS FROM RECEIVING CRITICAL INFO. A COMMON METHOD OF REQUESTING INFO USING THE SYS IS TO REQUEST INFO BY STATE (IE, SA, WI; FT, IA; ETC). WHEN CORRECTIVE SIGMET INFO FOR WI, IS REQUESTED (WST WI) TWO COPIES OF CORRECTIVE SIGMETS FOR THE WESTERN USA IS RECEIVED (1000 MI W OF WI) BUT NONE FOR THE CENTRAL USA (WX SVC CODE MKCC WST). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND MISLEADING TO THE PLT OPERATING IN WI, AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE ANOTHER TSTM 'SEASON' BEGINS. THIS POTENTIALLY VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO EXIST FOR FAR TOO LONG. IN THE SUMMER OF 1990, I CONTACTED CONTRACT WX SVCS BY PHONE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN, TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE PROB AND THE NEED TO CORRECT IT. APPROX 3 MONTHS AGO, I INFORMED THE WI BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS OF THE PROB WITH THE PRODUCT THEY ARE PURCHASING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH THE CONTRACT WX SVC REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. CALLBACK ON AN 800 NUMBER GIVEN BY THE RPTR REVEALED THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP THE RPTR GET THE NEEDED WX BRIEFING AND THAT THERE IS AN ACCESS CODE THAT WOULD GIVE THE INFO IN QUESTION AUTOMATICALLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.