Narrative:

I'm writing this to document what I feel is, at best, a poor situation regarding the automated surface observation system (ASOS) that will come on line in amarillo (tower) this nov/sun/92. The ASOS system was originally going to start up on oct/xx, but was delayed for 2 reasons: 1) a programming glitch wherein when the visibility falls below 1/4 mi, the machine cannot report it. It will state 'visibility below 1/4,' and when the visibility goes back up to 1/4, it will not issue a special. This is a problem at ama because we have no RVR to runway 22 and rely on visibility for acrs to depart. They will have to wait until we can show 1/2 mi to depart. We could be talking about extended delays. 2) a spider built a web on a sensor in sep and the ASOS was reporting snow with the temperature in the 90's. This problem was supposedly solved with insect repellent paint. It remains to be seen how long that will be effective. Problem #1 has not been fixed in any way, shape, or form and yet the system will be operational in 2 days. The WX service says they will not issue specials for us, even though their building is next to ours. There are unlimited problems with this machine and I wanted it noted in your forum prior to start up.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR DOESN'T LIKE THE WAY THE AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYS (ASOS) THAT IS BEING INSTALLED AT FACILITY OPERATES.

Narrative: I'M WRITING THIS TO DOCUMENT WHAT I FEEL IS, AT BEST, A POOR SITUATION REGARDING THE AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYS (ASOS) THAT WILL COME ON LINE IN AMARILLO (TWR) THIS NOV/SUN/92. THE ASOS SYS WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO START UP ON OCT/XX, BUT WAS DELAYED FOR 2 REASONS: 1) A PROGRAMMING GLITCH WHEREIN WHEN THE VISIBILITY FALLS BELOW 1/4 MI, THE MACHINE CANNOT RPT IT. IT WILL STATE 'VISIBILITY BELOW 1/4,' AND WHEN THE VISIBILITY GOES BACK UP TO 1/4, IT WILL NOT ISSUE A SPECIAL. THIS IS A PROBLEM AT AMA BECAUSE WE HAVE NO RVR TO RWY 22 AND RELY ON VISIBILITY FOR ACRS TO DEPART. THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE CAN SHOW 1/2 MI TO DEPART. WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDED DELAYS. 2) A SPIDER BUILT A WEB ON A SENSOR IN SEP AND THE ASOS WAS RPTING SNOW WITH THE TEMP IN THE 90'S. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY SOLVED WITH INSECT REPELLENT PAINT. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW LONG THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE. PROBLEM #1 HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM AND YET THE SYS WILL BE OPERATIONAL IN 2 DAYS. THE WX SVC SAYS THEY WILL NOT ISSUE SPECIALS FOR US, EVEN THOUGH THEIR BUILDING IS NEXT TO OURS. THERE ARE UNLIMITED PROBLEMS WITH THIS MACHINE AND I WANTED IT NOTED IN YOUR FORUM PRIOR TO START UP.

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.