Narrative:

At ZKC we do not receive WX updates in a timely fashion. It is frequently 15 mins after the time of the WX reading before we get the updates in the ZKC computer. This means that 25% of each and every hour of every day; our altimeter settings are over 1 hour old. We controllers have been told 'that's just the way the system works. Deal with it.' I find this situation unacceptable. The event that drove me to finally make this report happened today when I was working an aircraft inbound to tbn. The pilot was justifiably concerned about the strong; variable and gusty winds. He requested the current WX at tbn upon initial contact on my frequency; but all I had to give him was the observation that was 1 hour old. I told him I would update the WX as soon as I had it. (The tower was closed so I could not call for a wind reading.) it was not until just 2 mins before landing that I was able to give the pilot updated WX. If he had been just 2 mins earlier; I would not have had any current information for him at all. The automated observation had been made; but it was not available to me. This is unsafe and must be changed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZKC CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING THE DELAYS EXPERIENCED IN RECEIVING TIMELY WX INFO AT THE CTL SECTORS.

Narrative: AT ZKC WE DO NOT RECEIVE WX UPDATES IN A TIMELY FASHION. IT IS FREQUENTLY 15 MINS AFTER THE TIME OF THE WX READING BEFORE WE GET THE UPDATES IN THE ZKC COMPUTER. THIS MEANS THAT 25% OF EACH AND EVERY HR OF EVERY DAY; OUR ALTIMETER SETTINGS ARE OVER 1 HR OLD. WE CTLRS HAVE BEEN TOLD 'THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE SYS WORKS. DEAL WITH IT.' I FIND THIS SITUATION UNACCEPTABLE. THE EVENT THAT DROVE ME TO FINALLY MAKE THIS RPT HAPPENED TODAY WHEN I WAS WORKING AN ACFT INBOUND TO TBN. THE PLT WAS JUSTIFIABLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRONG; VARIABLE AND GUSTY WINDS. HE REQUESTED THE CURRENT WX AT TBN UPON INITIAL CONTACT ON MY FREQ; BUT ALL I HAD TO GIVE HIM WAS THE OBSERVATION THAT WAS 1 HR OLD. I TOLD HIM I WOULD UPDATE THE WX AS SOON AS I HAD IT. (THE TWR WAS CLOSED SO I COULD NOT CALL FOR A WIND READING.) IT WAS NOT UNTIL JUST 2 MINS BEFORE LNDG THAT I WAS ABLE TO GIVE THE PLT UPDATED WX. IF HE HAD BEEN JUST 2 MINS EARLIER; I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY CURRENT INFO FOR HIM AT ALL. THE AUTOMATED OBSERVATION HAD BEEN MADE; BUT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME. THIS IS UNSAFE AND MUST BE CHANGED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.