Tower local controller described an internal disagreement when relieving another controller and noti...

Narrative:

I was relieving the local controller and we were waiting for 2 IFR releases from the TRACON in IFR conditions due to low ceilings and 1 aircraft was approaching the outer marker. The weather indicated ceiling of 900 ft but as I was getting my briefing; the ASOS was showing 600 and the 2 aircraft were in the ILS critical area with an aircraft just outside the marked. As we came off the briefing line; I asked him about the situation he placed me in and he said the weather says 900 so we are clean. I wholeheartedly disagree. I finally got both releases and the second aircraft was in the ILS critical area as the arrival crossed the outer marker but I got the aircraft out of their and on departure roll by the time the arrival was about a mile inside the outer marker. The flm was monitoring the frequency and failed to correct the controller and the situation I was placed in. Recommendation; teach all controllers that the ASOS is the current weather and the ILS needs to be protected with reference to the ASOS and not the hourly weather. I am very disappointed in the local controller and the flm.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Local Controller described an internal disagreement when relieving another controller and noting two aircraft in the ILS Critical Area when the current ASOS weather dictated that the subject areas be clear of aircraft.

Narrative: I was relieving the Local Controller and we were waiting for 2 IFR releases from the TRACON in IFR conditions due to low ceilings and 1 aircraft was approaching the Outer Marker. The weather indicated ceiling of 900 FT but as I was getting my briefing; the ASOS was showing 600 and the 2 aircraft were in the ILS critical area with an aircraft just outside the marked. As we came off the briefing line; I asked him about the situation he placed me in and he said the weather says 900 so we are clean. I wholeheartedly disagree. I finally got both releases and the second aircraft was in the ILS critical area as the arrival crossed the outer marker but I got the aircraft out of their and on departure roll by the time the arrival was about a mile inside the outer marker. The FLM was monitoring the frequency and failed to correct the controller and the situation I was placed in. Recommendation; teach all controllers that the ASOS is the current weather and the ILS needs to be protected with reference to the ASOS and not the hourly weather. I am very disappointed in the Local Controller and the FLM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	997702
Time
Date	201203
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Challenger Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Tower local controller described an internal disagreement when relieving another controller and noting two aircraft in the ILS critical area when the current ASOS weather dictated that the subject areas be clear of aircraft.