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Controller observes the ASOS transmit the current WX information, then quickly reverted to a different observation without providing an aural alarm. The reporter states that he has noticed the ASOS monitor flicker before and thought that the WX had changed, however, he now suspects that it was providing erroneous information.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 357055 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199701 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : eri |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Dusk |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : flight data |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller military : 4 controller radar : 25 controller supervisory : 2 |
| ASRS Report | 357055 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | oversight : supervisor |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Navigational Facility |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| Navigational Aid | Unspecified |
Narrative:
ASOS had just transmitted current observation and verification period had ended. I cut a new ATIS and happened to glance at the ASOS monitor and it flashed, similar as it does when it refreshes. I just happened to notice it looked different. I read the whole observation and notice the ceiling line had changed. It was originally BKN001 BKN005 OVC012 and had changed to BKN001 OVC005. There was no aural alarm, verification period or anything. I reported this to the team supervisor and he logged the situation. I have noticed the monitor flicker before and thought the WX changed but before I could check the monitor, due to traffic, the observation had been removed and another data line was in verification. I have spoken to other controllers who have noticed the WX change after it was out of verification and considered official.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CTLR OBSERVES THE ASOS XMIT THE CURRENT WX INFO, THEN QUICKLY REVERTED TO A DIFFERENT OBSERVATION WITHOUT PROVIDING AN AURAL ALARM. THE RPTR STATES THAT HE HAS NOTICED THE ASOS MONITOR FLICKER BEFORE AND THOUGHT THAT THE WX HAD CHANGED, HOWEVER, HE NOW SUSPECTS THAT IT WAS PROVIDING ERRONEOUS INFO.
Narrative: ASOS HAD JUST XMITTED CURRENT OBSERVATION AND VERIFICATION PERIOD HAD ENDED. I CUT A NEW ATIS AND HAPPENED TO GLANCE AT THE ASOS MONITOR AND IT FLASHED, SIMILAR AS IT DOES WHEN IT REFRESHES. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE IT LOOKED DIFFERENT. I READ THE WHOLE OBSERVATION AND NOTICE THE CEILING LINE HAD CHANGED. IT WAS ORIGINALLY BKN001 BKN005 OVC012 AND HAD CHANGED TO BKN001 OVC005. THERE WAS NO AURAL ALARM, VERIFICATION PERIOD OR ANYTHING. I RPTED THIS TO THE TEAM SUPVR AND HE LOGGED THE SIT. I HAVE NOTICED THE MONITOR FLICKER BEFORE AND THOUGHT THE WX CHANGED BUT BEFORE I COULD CHK THE MONITOR, DUE TO TFC, THE OBSERVATION HAD BEEN REMOVED AND ANOTHER DATA LINE WAS IN VERIFICATION. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER CTLRS WHO HAVE NOTICED THE WX CHANGE AFTER IT WAS OUT OF VERIFICATION AND CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
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.