Narrative:

ATC reported an area of significant WX up near dallas. They described a 4-SIDED box within which were big thunderstorms and lots of gusty winds, lightning, rain, hail, etc. As usual, the corners of the box were towns (and small ones, too) rather than navaids. I only recognized the name of one of the towns, and spent some time trying to find the others on my high altitude chart west/O luck. Why can't ATC use navaids to describe their SIGMET WX boxes. All pilots are familiar with navaids, less familiar with fixes, and even less familiar with towns when they're flying cross country. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Made to reporter to explain that ATC does not make the SIGMET forecasts and they only disseminate the information provided by the national WX service. Since NWS is not an aviation oriented service, they do not refer to navaids, only to towns and geographical locations. By directive, the controllers must broadcast this information upon receipt and they do not have staffing to try and plot the SIGMET areas in reference to navaids. This subject was referred to in a telecon as the reporter's problems and implied suggestion are understood by analysts, however, it is not felt that there is an easy solution to this problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT COMPLAINT ABOUT SIGMET WX BROADCAST WITH REFERENCE TO TOWNS AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS NOT ON AVIATION PUBLICATIONS.

Narrative: ATC RPTED AN AREA OF SIGNIFICANT WX UP NEAR DALLAS. THEY DESCRIBED A 4-SIDED BOX WITHIN WHICH WERE BIG TSTMS AND LOTS OF GUSTY WINDS, LIGHTNING, RAIN, HAIL, ETC. AS USUAL, THE CORNERS OF THE BOX WERE TOWNS (AND SMALL ONES, TOO) RATHER THAN NAVAIDS. I ONLY RECOGNIZED THE NAME OF ONE OF THE TOWNS, AND SPENT SOME TIME TRYING TO FIND THE OTHERS ON MY HIGH ALT CHART W/O LUCK. WHY CAN'T ATC USE NAVAIDS TO DESCRIBE THEIR SIGMET WX BOXES. ALL PLTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH NAVAIDS, LESS FAMILIAR WITH FIXES, AND EVEN LESS FAMILIAR WITH TOWNS WHEN THEY'RE FLYING CROSS COUNTRY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. MADE TO RPTR TO EXPLAIN THAT ATC DOES NOT MAKE THE SIGMET FORECASTS AND THEY ONLY DISSEMINATE THE INFO PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL WX SERVICE. SINCE NWS IS NOT AN AVIATION ORIENTED SERVICE, THEY DO NOT REFER TO NAVAIDS, ONLY TO TOWNS AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS. BY DIRECTIVE, THE CTLRS MUST BROADCAST THIS INFO UPON RECEIPT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE STAFFING TO TRY AND PLOT THE SIGMET AREAS IN REF TO NAVAIDS. THIS SUBJECT WAS REFERRED TO IN A TELECON AS THE RPTR'S PROBS AND IMPLIED SUGGESTION ARE UNDERSTOOD BY ANALYSTS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT FELT THAT THERE IS AN EASY SOLUTION TO THIS PROB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.