Dispatch provided WX packet that was incomplete.

Attributes
ACN	165922
Time
Date	199012
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	165922
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Received the normal WX package from dispatch (after 2 phone calls). Package contained the statement, 'convective SIGMET--none.' there was no mention of any severe WX on my route. Because I knew (tv WX) that there was significant WX en route, I specifically requested an area forecast, as none was at the oak station. The area forecast made several references to light, occasional moderate turbulence on our route. Additionally, it did mention SIGMET juliet series, but did not contain the text. I then obtained the SIGMET text from an air carrier pilot, and subsequently from dispatch. This SIGMET was for moderate-severe turbulence that had been reported by other aircraft. It covered almost my entire route of flight. Why does it take 30 mins of constant badgering to get critical WX information? Reply requested. Received my WX packet for flight (sna-oak). For my ETA +/-1 hours, the forecast included, 'ocnl 15 broken.' this requires an alternate. Available on the WX packet were several choices for alternates; however, the closest is 205 mi from oak!!! Alternate choices were: lax, lgb, ont, bfl, san, bur and psp. This, and other WX access problems can be eliminated by giving pilots access to the WX information in computer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCH PROVIDED WX PACKET THAT WAS INCOMPLETE.

Narrative: RECEIVED THE NORMAL WX PACKAGE FROM DISPATCH (AFTER 2 PHONE CALLS). PACKAGE CONTAINED THE STATEMENT, 'CONVECTIVE SIGMET--NONE.' THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY SEVERE WX ON MY RTE. BECAUSE I KNEW (TV WX) THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT WX ENRTE, I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED AN AREA FORECAST, AS NONE WAS AT THE OAK STATION. THE AREA FORECAST MADE SEVERAL REFS TO LIGHT, OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURB ON OUR RTE. ADDITIONALLY, IT DID MENTION SIGMET JULIET SERIES, BUT DID NOT CONTAIN THE TEXT. I THEN OBTAINED THE SIGMET TEXT FROM AN ACR PLT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY FROM DISPATCH. THIS SIGMET WAS FOR MODERATE-SEVERE TURB THAT HAD BEEN RPTED BY OTHER ACFT. IT COVERED ALMOST MY ENTIRE RTE OF FLT. WHY DOES IT TAKE 30 MINS OF CONSTANT BADGERING TO GET CRITICAL WX INFO? REPLY REQUESTED. RECEIVED MY WX PACKET FOR FLT (SNA-OAK). FOR MY ETA +/-1 HRS, THE FORECAST INCLUDED, 'OCNL 15 BKN.' THIS REQUIRES AN ALTERNATE. AVAILABLE ON THE WX PACKET WERE SEVERAL CHOICES FOR ALTERNATES; HOWEVER, THE CLOSEST IS 205 MI FROM OAK!!! ALTERNATE CHOICES WERE: LAX, LGB, ONT, BFL, SAN, BUR AND PSP. THIS, AND OTHER WX ACCESS PROBS CAN BE ELIMINATED BY GIVING PLTS ACCESS TO THE WX INFO IN COMPUTER.

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