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Fxe controller expressed frustration regarding national WX service (NWS) equipment status notification procedures.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 600425 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200311 |
| Day | Mon |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : fxe.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| ASRS Report | 600425 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government other |
| Function | other personnel other |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | atc equipment other atc equipment : asos wx equipment other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
| Consequence | other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | performance deficiency : repair |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
There is an ongoing problem between the FAA and the NWS. NWS routinely fixes ASOS sites remotely, then they don't report the equipment as returned to service. Apparently their contract doesn't require it. The problem is if the FAA 'assumes' a piece of WX reporting equipment is returned to service and uses it and it's not returned to service, we are reporting inaccurate aviation WX, a dangerous scenario to be sure. I have spoken to NWS before via a 1-800 number we have and was told that if it appeared correct then use it. This is dangerous. NWS should have to notify the observing facility when equipment is returned to service so there is not doubt, and unreliable measurements do not inadvertently get issued to aircraft. This happens on a regular basis with our dewpoint, less frequently with other equipment.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FXE CTLR EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION REGARDING NATIONAL WX SERVICE (NWS) EQUIP STATUS NOTIFICATION PROCS.
Narrative: THERE IS AN ONGOING PROB BETWEEN THE FAA AND THE NWS. NWS ROUTINELY FIXES ASOS SITES REMOTELY, THEN THEY DON'T RPT THE EQUIPMENT AS RETURNED TO SERVICE. APPARENTLY THEIR CONTRACT DOESN'T REQUIRE IT. THE PROB IS IF THE FAA 'ASSUMES' A PIECE OF WX RPTING EQUIPMENT IS RETURNED TO SERVICE AND USES IT AND IT'S NOT RETURNED TO SERVICE, WE ARE REPORTING INACCURATE AVIATION WX, A DANGEROUS SCENARIO TO BE SURE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NWS BEFORE VIA A 1-800 NUMBER WE HAVE AND WAS TOLD THAT IF IT APPEARED CORRECT THEN USE IT. THIS IS DANGEROUS. NWS SHOULD HAVE TO NOTIFY THE OBSERVING FACILITY WHEN EQUIPMENT IS RETURNED TO SERVICE SO THERE IS NOT DOUBT, AND UNRELIABLE MEASUREMENTS DO NOT INADVERTENTLY GET ISSUED TO ACFT. THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH OUR DEWPOINT, LESS FREQUENTLY WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT.
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.