Narrative:

1. Wsss flight operations denies access to a computer for weather map review; no weather maps provided; wbm was the only supplied weather product to pilots.2. Asked for phone to dispatch-reluctantly they give me a cell phone to dispatch.3. Advised dispatcher that the weather briefing for the trip sent by dispatch does not include wsss fir SIGMET for thunderstorms that are applicable to the route and fails to include metar; taf and NOTAMS for suitable landing airports directly on our route. Ask him to send all missing weather products to the aircraft printer as wsss ops refuses to allow access to a flight-planning computer. Weather briefing does include metar; taf and NOTAMS for bkk; 600 miles off course. Typical weather briefing problem in all regions of the world for years; i.e. Ignoring the relevant airports but including airports in the caribbean over 1500 miles off course such as grand turk and san juan for a european trip. Discussed with dispatcher a year ago. He informed me that he was told that all dispatchers and all pilots on the route would be required to sign off on the change to include proper airports for the route flown.4. Wsss fir SIGMET was available from universal weather and other commercial weather and dispatch service companies I had checked before going to the airport. Repeat problem of dispatch not providing sigmets; such as volcano SIGMET last week.5. No weather maps provided by wsss operations and no access to company computers is a repeat problem still not resolved from months ago when I noted it to dispatch.6. Actual storms enroute were initially within 30 NM of course and would disallow direct diversion from course to a suitable landing airport. In the area of the SIGMET we deviated around one storm directly on course and had turbulence and clouds with seat belt sign on for a long period of time; as might be expected from the SIGMET. Can we get a new weather service company and wbm weather product to comply with the FAA and ICAO requirement that the pilots properly study weather; especially severe weather; and study for alternate courses of action in event the flight must deviate from planned course? Can we ever get proper flight planning facilities and weather product access in wsss? Without using my private contracted dispatch company products one would not have known about this SIGMET. Repeat problem with dispatch weather products and wsss operations.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 Captain laments the poor flight planning facilities provided by his company in WSSS and the lack of a proper weather briefing package.

Narrative: 1. WSSS flight operations denies access to a computer for weather map review; no weather maps provided; WBM was the only supplied weather product to pilots.2. Asked for phone to Dispatch-reluctantly they give me a cell phone to Dispatch.3. Advised Dispatcher that the weather briefing for the trip sent by Dispatch does not include WSSS FIR SIGMET for thunderstorms that are applicable to the route and fails to include METAR; TAF and NOTAMS for suitable landing airports directly on our route. Ask him to send all missing weather products to the aircraft printer as WSSS ops refuses to allow access to a flight-planning computer. Weather briefing does include METAR; TAF and NOTAMS for BKK; 600 miles off course. Typical weather briefing problem in all regions of the world for years; i.e. ignoring the relevant airports but including airports in the Caribbean over 1500 miles off course such as Grand Turk and San Juan for a European trip. Discussed with dispatcher a year ago. He informed me that he was told that all dispatchers and all pilots on the route would be required to sign off on the change to include proper airports for the route flown.4. WSSS FIR SIGMET was available from Universal Weather and other commercial weather and dispatch service companies I had checked before going to the airport. Repeat problem of dispatch not providing SIGMETS; such as volcano SIGMET last week.5. No weather maps provided by WSSS Operations and no access to company computers is a repeat problem still not resolved from months ago when I noted it to dispatch.6. Actual storms enroute were initially within 30 NM of course and would disallow direct diversion from course to a suitable landing airport. In the area of the SIGMET we deviated around one storm directly on course and had turbulence and clouds with seat belt sign on for a long period of time; as might be expected from the SIGMET. Can we get a new weather service company and WBM weather product to comply with the FAA and ICAO requirement that the pilots properly study weather; especially severe weather; and study for alternate courses of action in event the flight must deviate from planned course? Can we ever get proper flight planning facilities and weather product access in WSSS? Without using my private contracted dispatch company products one would not have known about this SIGMET. Repeat problem with dispatch weather products and WSSS operations.

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.