Narrative:

I am enclosing a copy of a log kept by tower personnel at sjt. We have been logging PIREPS for about 6 weeks. The problem is NWS takes the WX at sjt. The log shows that the ceiling reported by NWS is almost always 200-400 ft higher than that reported by the pilots. This means we have a lot of unnecessary missed approachs. Because most of our traffic comes from dfw, it is faster to fly a VOR/DME approach than an ILS. Also, when NWS WX gives a ceiling of 1100 ft we have VFR aircraft departing VFR in IFR WX. (Because the ceiling is 800-900 ft.) this is unsafe. However, when this is pointed out to the NWS, we are told that their WX is correct and all the PIREPS are wrong. As I see it, the cause of this problem is two fold. 1) the NWS personnel do not go outside to take WX. They generally look out a window. Therefore, they cannot see the entire sky. If a cloud layer is not over the rbc then it does not exist. 2) NWS personnel don't read the rbc correctly or the rbc is not in proper working order. I truly believe this condition will cause an accident if not corrected, it is unsafe and unnecessary. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the WX observers from NWS don't go outside to see what the WX is doing. The NWS has new procedure which states if the ceilometer does not pick up clouds they don't exist. The facility manager and the reporter had a meeting with the NWS facility manager and were told these were new rules when a laser ceilometer was installed. This analyst advised the reporter to have the facility manager check into the new rules and see if the NWS interpretation is correct. Analyst felt there was some personality conflict between WX personnel and tower personnel.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTED WX RPTS DIFFER FROM PIREPS.

Narrative: I AM ENCLOSING A COPY OF A LOG KEPT BY TWR PERSONNEL AT SJT. WE HAVE BEEN LOGGING PIREPS FOR ABOUT 6 WKS. THE PROBLEM IS NWS TAKES THE WX AT SJT. THE LOG SHOWS THAT THE CEILING RPTED BY NWS IS ALMOST ALWAYS 200-400 FT HIGHER THAN THAT RPTED BY THE PLTS. THIS MEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF UNNECESSARY MISSED APCHS. BECAUSE MOST OF OUR TFC COMES FROM DFW, IT IS FASTER TO FLY A VOR/DME APCH THAN AN ILS. ALSO, WHEN NWS WX GIVES A CEILING OF 1100 FT WE HAVE VFR ACFT DEPARTING VFR IN IFR WX. (BECAUSE THE CEILING IS 800-900 FT.) THIS IS UNSAFE. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS IS POINTED OUT TO THE NWS, WE ARE TOLD THAT THEIR WX IS CORRECT AND ALL THE PIREPS ARE WRONG. AS I SEE IT, THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS TWO FOLD. 1) THE NWS PERSONNEL DO NOT GO OUTSIDE TO TAKE WX. THEY GENERALLY LOOK OUT A WINDOW. THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT SEE THE ENTIRE SKY. IF A CLOUD LAYER IS NOT OVER THE RBC THEN IT DOES NOT EXIST. 2) NWS PERSONNEL DON'T READ THE RBC CORRECTLY OR THE RBC IS NOT IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT CORRECTED, IT IS UNSAFE AND UNNECESSARY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE WX OBSERVERS FROM NWS DON'T GO OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT THE WX IS DOING. THE NWS HAS NEW PROC WHICH STATES IF THE CEILOMETER DOES NOT PICK UP CLOUDS THEY DON'T EXIST. THE FACILITY MGR AND THE RPTR HAD A MEETING WITH THE NWS FACILITY MGR AND WERE TOLD THESE WERE NEW RULES WHEN A LASER CEILOMETER WAS INSTALLED. THIS ANALYST ADVISED THE RPTR TO HAVE THE FACILITY MGR CHK INTO THE NEW RULES AND SEE IF THE NWS INTERP IS CORRECT. ANALYST FELT THERE WAS SOME PERSONALITY CONFLICT BTWN WX PERSONNEL AND TWR PERSONNEL.

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.