Controller unable to update WX during changing WX conditions.

Attributes
ACN	319459
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cid
State Reference	IA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 7 controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	319459
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

I was working ground control and local control combined. Radar was being worked in the tower cabin attendant by another controller who had 2 aircraft on vectors to cid (a AC69 and B727). The WX was changing from VFR, IFR, VFR and I was unable, due to workload, to take WX observations to give the aircraft updated WX. (We are an understaffed lawrs facility.) there were 2 other fpl's in the building but they were in the process of opening radar room (TRACON). In my opinion, the whole premise of making a level III up/down facility take lawrs observations without ASOS etc, is an accident waiting to happen. This decision was made in order to save money on contract WX observations. It should be noted that during the periods that cid ATCT is closed, the WX observations are being done by contract. This savings to the FAA is approximately $50,000 a yr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR UNABLE TO UPDATE WX DURING CHANGING WX CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING GND CTL AND LCL CTL COMBINED. RADAR WAS BEING WORKED IN THE TWR CAB BY ANOTHER CTLR WHO HAD 2 ACFT ON VECTORS TO CID (A AC69 AND B727). THE WX WAS CHANGING FROM VFR, IFR, VFR AND I WAS UNABLE, DUE TO WORKLOAD, TO TAKE WX OBSERVATIONS TO GIVE THE ACFT UPDATED WX. (WE ARE AN UNDERSTAFFED LAWRS FACILITY.) THERE WERE 2 OTHER FPL'S IN THE BUILDING BUT THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING RADAR ROOM (TRACON). IN MY OPINION, THE WHOLE PREMISE OF MAKING A LEVEL III UP/DOWN FACILITY TAKE LAWRS OBSERVATIONS WITHOUT ASOS ETC, IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS DECISION WAS MADE IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY ON CONTRACT WX OBSERVATIONS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DURING THE PERIODS THAT CID ATCT IS CLOSED, THE WX OBSERVATIONS ARE BEING DONE BY CONTRACT. THIS SAVINGS TO THE FAA IS APPROX $50,000 A YR.

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.