Narrative:

Erie ASOS does not generate a speci report when WX (visibility) goes from 3/4 to 1/2 SM or from 1/2 to 3/4 SM. 3/4 SM is erie's lowest published approach minimum for the airport. According to FAA order 7900.5A paragraph 7-14, criteria for speci observation, if the visibility decreases to less than, or if below, increases to equal or exceed (4) the lowest standard instrument approach procedure minimum as published in the government united states terminal procedures, the observer shall take, record, and disseminate a speci observation. ASOS does not notify when this criteria is met or exceeded. This creates an unsafe condition.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CTLR CLAIMS THAT ASOS DOES NOT GENERATE A SPECIAL RPT WHENEVER THE VISIBILITY GOES FROM THREE QUARTERS TO ONE HALF MI, OR FROM ONE HALF TO THREE QUARTERS MI AS SPECIFIED IN THE CRITERIA. THE RPTR STATES THAT THE LOWEST PUBLISHED APCH MINIMUMS FOR THE ARPT IS THREE QUARTERS MI, THEREFORE A SPECIAL RPT IS REQUIRED.

Narrative: ERIE ASOS DOES NOT GENERATE A SPECI RPT WHEN WX (VISIBILITY) GOES FROM 3/4 TO 1/2 SM OR FROM 1/2 TO 3/4 SM. 3/4 SM IS ERIE'S LOWEST PUBLISHED APCH MINIMUM FOR THE ARPT. ACCORDING TO FAA ORDER 7900.5A PARAGRAPH 7-14, CRITERIA FOR SPECI OBSERVATION, IF THE VISIBILITY DECREASES TO LESS THAN, OR IF BELOW, INCREASES TO EQUAL OR EXCEED (4) THE LOWEST STANDARD INST APCH PROC MINIMUM AS PUBLISHED IN THE GOV UNITED STATES TERMINAL PROCS, THE OBSERVER SHALL TAKE, RECORD, AND DISSEMINATE A SPECI OBSERVATION. ASOS DOES NOT NOTIFY WHEN THIS CRITERIA IS MET OR EXCEEDED. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION.

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.