Narrative:

Periodically, since 1985, I have been trying to generate interest in FAA, alpa, etc re: low level wind shear equipment for rno. Although wind socks are present in the T/D-landing zones runway 16R and 34L, the only wind measuring equipment is center field. This is borderline worthless as an indicator of T/D or approach area surface wind. Rno field elevation is 4412' on the lee-side of the mountains surrounding lake tahoe, with other hills, mountains and irregular terrain on all sides. Wind shears and other terms of disturbed air are a continuous occurrence. Of all the airports in need of T/D zone wind reports, this airport is as much in need as any. What suggestion might you offer re: an effective input on the subject? Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: contacted reporter to advise him that the FAA western-pacific air traffic division has submitted a budget item to FAA washington to install low level wind shear equipment at rno. This was an add-on item to the current low level wind shear program. However, this submission is not a guarantee that the equipment will ever be installed. Apparently low level wind shear equipment is a low priority item for rno. He was advised to have the company's FAA pi to push for the equipment. Reporter stated that he has gone that route with no success.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER IS CONCERNED THAT RNO ARPT HAS NO LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EQUIPMENT INSTALLED.

Narrative: PERIODICALLY, SINCE 1985, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GENERATE INTEREST IN FAA, ALPA, ETC RE: LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EQUIP FOR RNO. ALTHOUGH WIND SOCKS ARE PRESENT IN THE T/D-LNDG ZONES RWY 16R AND 34L, THE ONLY WIND MEASURING EQUIP IS CENTER FIELD. THIS IS BORDERLINE WORTHLESS AS AN INDICATOR OF T/D OR APCH AREA SURFACE WIND. RNO FIELD ELEVATION IS 4412' ON THE LEE-SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING LAKE TAHOE, WITH OTHER HILLS, MOUNTAINS AND IRREGULAR TERRAIN ON ALL SIDES. WIND SHEARS AND OTHER TERMS OF DISTURBED AIR ARE A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. OF ALL THE ARPTS IN NEED OF T/D ZONE WIND RPTS, THIS ARPT IS AS MUCH IN NEED AS ANY. WHAT SUGGESTION MIGHT YOU OFFER RE: AN EFFECTIVE INPUT ON THE SUBJECT? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CONTACTED RPTR TO ADVISE HIM THAT THE FAA WESTERN-PACIFIC AIR TFC DIVISION HAS SUBMITTED A BUDGET ITEM TO FAA WASHINGTON TO INSTALL LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EQUIP AT RNO. THIS WAS AN ADD-ON ITEM TO THE CURRENT LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THIS SUBMISSION IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT THE EQUIPMENT WILL EVER BE INSTALLED. APPARENTLY LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EQUIP IS A LOW PRIORITY ITEM FOR RNO. HE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE COMPANY'S FAA PI TO PUSH FOR THE EQUIP. RPTR STATED THAT HE HAS GONE THAT RTE WITH NO SUCCESS.

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.