WX reporting equipment problem ASOS.

Attributes
ACN	285649
Time
Date	199410
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fsm
State Reference	AR
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	285649
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During busy operations the ASOS was showing multiple scattered and broken layers (VFR) with visibility runway 7R. When we were low IFR. I would estimate the actual WX was 8 overcast and visibility was 1R. When the ASOS finally reported IFR WX. The conditions had began to improve. We were VFR for at least 10 min before the ASOS caught up with the actual WX delaying VFR departures. In my opinion the ASOS is a piece of junk, and should be removed from service until this problem is corrected. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the NWS personnel would not augment the WX. This is an ongoing problem. NWS has an unofficial log they keep whenever they augment the system due to erroneous ASOS reports. Reporter is going to file a ucr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WX RPTING EQUIP PROB ASOS.

Narrative: DURING BUSY OPS THE ASOS WAS SHOWING MULTIPLE SCATTERED AND BROKEN LAYERS (VFR) WITH VISIBILITY RWY 7R. WHEN WE WERE LOW IFR. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE ACTUAL WX WAS 8 OVCST AND VISIBILITY WAS 1R. WHEN THE ASOS FINALLY RPTED IFR WX. THE CONDITIONS HAD BEGAN TO IMPROVE. WE WERE VFR FOR AT LEAST 10 MIN BEFORE THE ASOS CAUGHT UP WITH THE ACTUAL WX DELAYING VFR DEPS. IN MY OPINION THE ASOS IS A PIECE OF JUNK, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM SVC UNTIL THIS PROB IS CORRECTED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE NWS PERSONNEL WOULD NOT AUGMENT THE WX. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROB. NWS HAS AN UNOFFICIAL LOG THEY KEEP WHENEVER THEY AUGMENT THE SYS DUE TO ERRONEOUS ASOS RPTS. RPTR IS GOING TO FILE A UCR.

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.