Narrative:

ASOS at pbi constantly report inaccurate WX. Today, sep/xx/94, visibility is more than 5 mi ASOS reports visibility as 1 3/4 mi. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter was asked if there had been changes with ASOS since the report was sent in. Reporter stated that it had gotten worse and indicated that 1 day it reported visibility as 1/4 mi when the observed visibility from the tower was 10 mi. He indicated that the ASOS is not certified for use by the FAA but the WX service uses its readings which are then used in the WX reports. Reporter indicated that facility management is aware of the ASOS problem but does not know if it has been pursued outside the facility. Reporter stated that they are keeping an inaccuracy sheet and indicated that they usually fill 1 sheet per week with the inaccurate readings.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ASOS ACCURACY.

Narrative: ASOS AT PBI CONSTANTLY RPT INACCURATE WX. TODAY, SEP/XX/94, VISIBILITY IS MORE THAN 5 MI ASOS RPTS VISIBILITY AS 1 3/4 MI. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR WAS ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN CHANGES WITH ASOS SINCE THE RPT WAS SENT IN. RPTR STATED THAT IT HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND INDICATED THAT 1 DAY IT RPTED VISIBILITY AS 1/4 MI WHEN THE OBSERVED VISIBILITY FROM THE TWR WAS 10 MI. HE INDICATED THAT THE ASOS IS NOT CERTIFIED FOR USE BY THE FAA BUT THE WX SVC USES ITS READINGS WHICH ARE THEN USED IN THE WX RPTS. RPTR INDICATED THAT FACILITY MGMNT IS AWARE OF THE ASOS PROB BUT DOES NOT KNOW IF IT HAS BEEN PURSUED OUTSIDE THE FACILITY. RPTR STATED THAT THEY ARE KEEPING AN INACCURACY SHEET AND INDICATED THAT THEY USUALLY FILL 1 SHEET PER WK WITH THE INACCURATE READINGS.

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.