Narrative:

The automated surface observation system (ASOS) at the macon airport reports the surface visibility as better than 10 mi when the actual tower and surface visibility was 1 and 1/2 mi (IFR). This problem has continued for the last several days with nothing being done to correct the problem. I have pilot reports from aircraft departing the airport who strongly disagree with the ASOS visibility. This is an extremely dangerous operation especially when the tower is closed because there is no one available to correct or override the ASOS. Documenting the problem is all that we are doing. I suggest that the ASOS be decommissioned until the system meets the previous standards of taking WX observations. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated NWS WX personnel allegedly were told they were augmenting the system too much which was lowering the reported reliability of the ASOS. Reporter said he had heard the FAA is not installing any more ASOS system they are paying for, but the NWS is continuing to install them. Reporter said a hornet's nest was found in the ASOS equipment which accounted for the unreliability of the reported WX.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG VISIBILITY RPTED BY ASOS. WX RPTING EQUIP PROB.

Narrative: THE AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYS (ASOS) AT THE MACON ARPT RPTS THE SURFACE VISIBILITY AS BETTER THAN 10 MI WHEN THE ACTUAL TWR AND SURFACE VISIBILITY WAS 1 AND 1/2 MI (IFR). THIS PROB HAS CONTINUED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS WITH NOTHING BEING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROB. I HAVE PLT RPTS FROM ACFT DEPARTING THE ARPT WHO STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE ASOS VISIBILITY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS OP ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TWR IS CLOSED BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT OR OVERRIDE THE ASOS. DOCUMENTING THE PROB IS ALL THAT WE ARE DOING. I SUGGEST THAT THE ASOS BE DECOMMISSIONED UNTIL THE SYS MEETS THE PREVIOUS STANDARDS OF TAKING WX OBSERVATIONS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED NWS WX PERSONNEL ALLEGEDLY WERE TOLD THEY WERE AUGMENTING THE SYS TOO MUCH WHICH WAS LOWERING THE RPTED RELIABILITY OF THE ASOS. RPTR SAID HE HAD HEARD THE FAA IS NOT INSTALLING ANY MORE ASOS SYS THEY ARE PAYING FOR, BUT THE NWS IS CONTINUING TO INSTALL THEM. RPTR SAID A HORNET'S NEST WAS FOUND IN THE ASOS EQUIP WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE UNRELIABILITY OF THE RPTED WX.

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.