Steam from smoke stack restricts tower visibility of runways.

Attributes
ACN	326997
Time
Date	199602
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : vps
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 10 controller radar : 4
ASRS Report	326997
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Smoke from stacks obscures the approach end of runway 32R, and the short final of runway 27R. Solution: a 'filter' has already been installed on the stacks, which significantly reduces the clouds of steam. When the tower needs to depart runway 32R, the city should activate their 'steam-reducing' system, it is not always necessary due to the arrival confign in use. A memo of understanding might be helpful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STEAM FROM SMOKE STACK RESTRICTS TWR VISIBILITY OF RWYS.

Narrative: SMOKE FROM STACKS OBSCURES THE APCH END OF RWY 32R, AND THE SHORT FINAL OF RWY 27R. SOLUTION: A 'FILTER' HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED ON THE STACKS, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE CLOUDS OF STEAM. WHEN THE TWR NEEDS TO DEPART RWY 32R, THE CITY SHOULD ACTIVATE THEIR 'STEAM-REDUCING' SYS, IT IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY DUE TO THE ARR CONFIGN IN USE. A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

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.