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FSS controller concerned with anomalies associated with AWOS reporting program. In controllers WX environment, WX changes quickly and AWOS will change from VFR, to IFR, back to VFR with aircraft operating within class east airspace. This change exposes pilots of differing qualifications to operate possibly in non qualified conditions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 411133 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199807 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : otz |
| State Reference | AK |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | other personnel other |
| Qualification | other pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time total : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 411133 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : unspecified |
| Navigational Aid | Unspecified |
Narrative:
Class east airspace, an operational FSS, an AWOS augmented by the NWS and conditions rapidly changing between IFR and VFR conditions. The AWOS takes and transmits WX observations every 2 mins. If WX is VFR with an IFR aircraft on approach with several VFR aircraft operating in the airspace and it takes a WX observation that is IFR and immediately transmits it over the air, the VFR aircraft are operating in class east airspace in below VFR conditions without an ATC clearance and SVFR/IFR separation is lost. This occurs on a regular basis.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FSS CTLR CONCERNED WITH ANOMALIES ASSOCIATED WITH AWOS RPTING PROGRAM. IN CTLRS WX ENVIRONMENT, WX CHANGES QUICKLY AND AWOS WILL CHANGE FROM VFR, TO IFR, BACK TO VFR WITH ACFT OPERATING WITHIN CLASS E AIRSPACE. THIS CHANGE EXPOSES PLTS OF DIFFERING QUALIFICATIONS TO OPERATE POSSIBLY IN NON QUALIFIED CONDITIONS.
Narrative: CLASS E AIRSPACE, AN OPERATIONAL FSS, AN AWOS AUGMENTED BY THE NWS AND CONDITIONS RAPIDLY CHANGING BTWN IFR AND VFR CONDITIONS. THE AWOS TAKES AND XMITS WX OBSERVATIONS EVERY 2 MINS. IF WX IS VFR WITH AN IFR ACFT ON APCH WITH SEVERAL VFR ACFT OPERATING IN THE AIRSPACE AND IT TAKES A WX OBSERVATION THAT IS IFR AND IMMEDIATELY XMITS IT OVER THE AIR, THE VFR ACFT ARE OPERATING IN CLASS E AIRSPACE IN BELOW VFR CONDITIONS WITHOUT AN ATC CLRNC AND SVFR/IFR SEPARATION IS LOST. THIS OCCURS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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.