Zao approach controller concerned with btl NFCT intermittent failure of updating azo of btl WX chang...

Attributes
ACN	557185
Time
Date	200208
Day	Fri
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : azo.tracon
State Reference	MI
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	557185
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : btl.tower

Narrative:

Kalamazoo (azo) is the approach control for btl (battle creek, mi). Btl is a contract control tower. They have ASOS. LOA requires them to forward hourly and special WX. On a consistent basis, certain btl controllers are not forwarding the newest WX as required. This is forcing azo to unknowingly issue either old or inaccurate WX information, or not to issue WX at all, if we know it is old. Our support specialist has talked with the manager at btl tower several times, however there are still btl controllers that are not complying. We at azo are being put in a serious position. We are required to give the most accurate WX to arrs. If we do not have it, then what are we supposed to issue? If an accident were to happen, we would partly be responsible for not giving current WX information. We feel we are not responsible, when we have contacted them several times to correct this problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAO APCH CTLR CONCERNED WITH BTL NFCT INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF UPDATING AZO OF BTL WX CHANGES.

Narrative: KALAMAZOO (AZO) IS THE APCH CTL FOR BTL (BATTLE CREEK, MI). BTL IS A CONTRACT CTL TWR. THEY HAVE ASOS. LOA REQUIRES THEM TO FORWARD HOURLY AND SPECIAL WX. ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, CERTAIN BTL CTLRS ARE NOT FORWARDING THE NEWEST WX AS REQUIRED. THIS IS FORCING AZO TO UNKNOWINGLY ISSUE EITHER OLD OR INACCURATE WX INFO, OR NOT TO ISSUE WX AT ALL, IF WE KNOW IT IS OLD. OUR SUPPORT SPECIALIST HAS TALKED WITH THE MGR AT BTL TWR SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THERE ARE STILL BTL CTLRS THAT ARE NOT COMPLYING. WE AT AZO ARE BEING PUT IN A SERIOUS POS. WE ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE THE MOST ACCURATE WX TO ARRS. IF WE DO NOT HAVE IT, THEN WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ISSUE? IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN, WE WOULD PARTLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT GIVING CURRENT WX INFO. WE FEEL WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, WHEN WE HAVE CONTACTED THEM SEVERAL TIMES TO CORRECT THIS PROB.

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.

Zao approach controller concerned with btl NFCT intermittent failure of updating azo of btl WX changes.