A C206 pilot challenges the WX as reported from the local AWOS on his VFR departure from fyu, ak.

Attributes
ACN	537568
Time
Date	200202
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fyu.airport
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
ASRS Report	537568
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : awos other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather ATC Facility Airport Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	ATC Facility

Narrative:

I began by obtaining a WX briefing at XA00. At that time the AWOS was reporting MVFR. On the drive to the airport (approximately 3 mi) my visibility was at least 3 mi with a scattered haze layer at 800 ft. Prior to departure, I taxied the aircraft in a large circle to look for traffic and my visibility was approximately 3 mi with that thin haze at 800 ft with blue sky visible and clear above in any direction. I made my announcements on the CTAF 122.5, pulled out onto runway 3, announced my departure. The WX was at least 40 mi visibility and maybe 9000 ft scattered to thin broken. The reason for this note is that the AWOS report did not reflect the WX that I was observing. The visibility was clearly 3 mi and the overcast layer was only haze and scattered with blue sky and unrestr in any direction beyond. The CTAF 122.5 was used throughout and by notation in the alaska supplement it shows to be a tie-in with fairbanks FSS. My announcements were made without comment from FSS, the other pilot, nor anyone else. My flight was conducted safely and correctly in VFR conditions. At no time was I ever in conflict with another aircraft nor did anyone take evasive action, nor intentionally violate any part of the far's.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C206 PLT CHALLENGES THE WX AS RPTED FROM THE LCL AWOS ON HIS VFR DEP FROM FYU, AK.

Narrative: I BEGAN BY OBTAINING A WX BRIEFING AT XA00. AT THAT TIME THE AWOS WAS RPTING MVFR. ON THE DRIVE TO THE ARPT (APPROX 3 MI) MY VISIBILITY WAS AT LEAST 3 MI WITH A SCATTERED HAZE LAYER AT 800 FT. PRIOR TO DEP, I TAXIED THE ACFT IN A LARGE CIRCLE TO LOOK FOR TFC AND MY VISIBILITY WAS APPROX 3 MI WITH THAT THIN HAZE AT 800 FT WITH BLUE SKY VISIBLE AND CLR ABOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. I MADE MY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE CTAF 122.5, PULLED OUT ONTO RWY 3, ANNOUNCED MY DEP. THE WX WAS AT LEAST 40 MI VISIBILITY AND MAYBE 9000 FT SCATTERED TO THIN BROKEN. THE REASON FOR THIS NOTE IS THAT THE AWOS RPT DID NOT REFLECT THE WX THAT I WAS OBSERVING. THE VISIBILITY WAS CLRLY 3 MI AND THE OVCST LAYER WAS ONLY HAZE AND SCATTERED WITH BLUE SKY AND UNRESTR IN ANY DIRECTION BEYOND. THE CTAF 122.5 WAS USED THROUGHOUT AND BY NOTATION IN THE ALASKA SUPPLEMENT IT SHOWS TO BE A TIE-IN WITH FAIRBANKS FSS. MY ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE WITHOUT COMMENT FROM FSS, THE OTHER PLT, NOR ANYONE ELSE. MY FLT WAS CONDUCTED SAFELY AND CORRECTLY IN VFR CONDITIONS. AT NO TIME WAS I EVER IN CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT NOR DID ANYONE TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, NOR INTENTIONALLY VIOLATE ANY PART OF THE FAR'S.

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.