Inaccurate ASOS reporting.

Attributes
ACN	341747
Time
Date	199607
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdl
State Reference	CT
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 8
ASRS Report	341747
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Again PIREPS of IMC at 5000 ft. ASOS reports sky clear for at least 20 mins after these reports. One complaint from a air carrier X pilot, 'why isn't the WX on the ATIS reflecting the broken to overcast layer here.' this system is very poor and does not update appropriately. I often ask myself, with this type of reliability, what credence can an airline or any pilot place on ASOS WX reporting in an emergency situation?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INACCURATE ASOS RPTING.

Narrative: AGAIN PIREPS OF IMC AT 5000 FT. ASOS RPTS SKY CLR FOR AT LEAST 20 MINS AFTER THESE RPTS. ONE COMPLAINT FROM A ACR X PLT, 'WHY ISN'T THE WX ON THE ATIS REFLECTING THE BROKEN TO OVCST LAYER HERE.' THIS SYS IS VERY POOR AND DOES NOT UPDATE APPROPRIATELY. I OFTEN ASK MYSELF, WITH THIS TYPE OF RELIABILITY, WHAT CREDENCE CAN AN AIRLINE OR ANY PLT PLACE ON ASOS WX RPTING IN AN EMER SIT?

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.