Narrative:

The ASOS did not depict an accurate wind for the mcr airport for at least 2 hours. At XX15 the ASOS's operator input device was displaying the wind at 140 degrees at 8 KTS gusting to 17 KTS. At XX21 the ASOS's operator input device was displaying the wind at 150 degrees at 10 KTS gusting to 17 KTS. At no time did this increase in wind trigger the ASOS to report a special WX observation. The ASOS was officially displaying the wind as calm for the hourly surface observation! The national WX service said since they did not make note of the wind during the hourly observation that they can't augment the system. This is a dangerous problem. When thunderstorms move through the area, robins air force base which is 3 mi south of macan will put the wind on their observation as high as 25 KTS. Macon's wind would remain calm throughout the whole hour. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the automated surface observing system does not report the current WX. Although the system is supposed to be updating the WX it will not augment itself to changing conditions. NWS observers won't input the current WX when the tower asks for a special. NWS observers will be transferred when FAA accepts the system. Region has stopped any further installation and acceptance of ASOS until problems can be worked out.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ASOS UNRELIABLE. WIND RPTING.

Narrative: THE ASOS DID NOT DEPICT AN ACCURATE WIND FOR THE MCR ARPT FOR AT LEAST 2 HRS. AT XX15 THE ASOS'S OPERATOR INPUT DEVICE WAS DISPLAYING THE WIND AT 140 DEGS AT 8 KTS GUSTING TO 17 KTS. AT XX21 THE ASOS'S OPERATOR INPUT DEVICE WAS DISPLAYING THE WIND AT 150 DEGS AT 10 KTS GUSTING TO 17 KTS. AT NO TIME DID THIS INCREASE IN WIND TRIGGER THE ASOS TO RPT A SPECIAL WX OBSERVATION. THE ASOS WAS OFFICIALLY DISPLAYING THE WIND AS CALM FOR THE HRLY SURFACE OBSERVATION! THE NATIONAL WX SVC SAID SINCE THEY DID NOT MAKE NOTE OF THE WIND DURING THE HRLY OBSERVATION THAT THEY CAN'T AUGMENT THE SYS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROB. WHEN TSTMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA, ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE WHICH IS 3 MI S OF MACAN WILL PUT THE WIND ON THEIR OBSERVATION AS HIGH AS 25 KTS. MACON'S WIND WOULD REMAIN CALM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE HR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYS DOES NOT RPT THE CURRENT WX. ALTHOUGH THE SYS IS SUPPOSED TO BE UPDATING THE WX IT WILL NOT AUGMENT ITSELF TO CHANGING CONDITIONS. NWS OBSERVERS WON'T INPUT THE CURRENT WX WHEN THE TWR ASKS FOR A SPECIAL. NWS OBSERVERS WILL BE TRANSFERRED WHEN FAA ACCEPTS THE SYS. REGION HAS STOPPED ANY FURTHER INSTALLATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF ASOS UNTIL PROBS CAN BE WORKED OUT.

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.