 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Private pilot reports smo AWOS/ATIS is stuck at 1651Z when accessed via telephone. The AWOS does not change when the tower is open and the ATIS does not change when the tower is closed.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 833345 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200904 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | SMO.Airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Total 2043 Flight Crew Type 1800 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Other AWOS/ATIS |
Narrative:
Smo ASOS appears to be the only ASOS/AWOS in the us whose dedicated telephone number disseminates false information during hours tower is in operation. For several years; the telephone report has been stuck at 1651Z past the hour. Furthermore; all normal ATIS reports are also stuck at 1651Z past the hour. Dial and check it out! This could very well become an air safety hazard under the following scenario: I have become disillusioned by calling FSS layers of complexity just to get airport wind conditions. Therefore; I keep ASOS/AWOS numbers in my cell phone for frequently visited airports. This works very well and avoids nuisance ATIS calls. I get real time; up-to-the minute weather and wind information -- except at smo's ASOS number where it may be as much as 1 hour old. I can also have a passenger make wind checks for me on approach without tying up tower frequency; except for smo ASOS; which does not provide real time info. This could become an air safety issue! Smo ASOS is a public facility. A lot of airport neighbors are studying jet exhaust soot and smell in order to gather data. Real time wind info is not available from the telephone number. I have reported this anomaly several times to smo tower. I actually had 1 person state they would 'look into the matter.' that was a year ago.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Private pilot reports SMO AWOS/ATIS is stuck at 1651Z when accessed via telephone. The AWOS does not change when the Tower is open and the ATIS does not change when the Tower is closed.
Narrative: SMO ASOS appears to be the only ASOS/AWOS in the U.S. whose dedicated telephone number disseminates false information during hours Tower is in operation. For several years; the telephone report has been stuck at 1651Z past the hour. Furthermore; all normal ATIS reports are also stuck at 1651Z past the hour. Dial and check it out! This could very well become an air safety hazard under the following scenario: I have become disillusioned by calling FSS layers of complexity just to get airport wind conditions. Therefore; I keep ASOS/AWOS numbers in my cell phone for frequently visited airports. This works very well and avoids nuisance ATIS calls. I get real time; up-to-the minute weather and wind information -- except at SMO's ASOS number where it may be as much as 1 hour old. I can also have a passenger make wind checks for me on approach without tying up Tower frequency; except for SMO ASOS; which does not provide real time info. This could become an air safety issue! SMO ASOS is a public facility. A lot of airport neighbors are studying jet exhaust soot and smell in order to gather data. Real time wind info is not available from the telephone number. I have reported this anomaly several times to SMO Tower. I actually had 1 person state they would 'look into the matter.' That was a year ago.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.