Narrative:

ASOS reporting scattered 018 10 mi visibility. Actual WX broken 018 broken 025 10 mi. The confusion from the pilots when told to expect an instrument approach when ATIS is reporting visual conditions. Confusion from the controller when observing the WX and vectoring for a visual approach and the pilot saying that the airport is obscured by clouds. For whatever reasons the NWS observers were taken away for ASOS. ASOS does not accurately report the WX. As a controller I cannot trust ASOS to give an accurate account of the WX. I rely on PIREPS and when I get a chance look out of a window to see with my own eyes what kind of WX is at the airport. As a controller I am bound to do the best job I am capable of doing. Guessing what the WX is or not having trust in my equipment that is 'supposed' to make my job easier is not acceptable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR AT BDL CONCERNED THE AWOS EQUIP DISPLAYS WX DATA THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ACTUAL CONDITIONS.

Narrative: ASOS RPTING SCATTERED 018 10 MI VISIBILITY. ACTUAL WX BROKEN 018 BROKEN 025 10 MI. THE CONFUSION FROM THE PLTS WHEN TOLD TO EXPECT AN INST APCH WHEN ATIS IS RPTING VISUAL CONDITIONS. CONFUSION FROM THE CTLR WHEN OBSERVING THE WX AND VECTORING FOR A VISUAL APCH AND THE PLT SAYING THAT THE ARPT IS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. FOR WHATEVER REASONS THE NWS OBSERVERS WERE TAKEN AWAY FOR ASOS. ASOS DOES NOT ACCURATELY RPT THE WX. AS A CTLR I CANNOT TRUST ASOS TO GIVE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE WX. I RELY ON PIREPS AND WHEN I GET A CHANCE LOOK OUT OF A WINDOW TO SEE WITH MY OWN EYES WHAT KIND OF WX IS AT THE ARPT. AS A CTLR I AM BOUND TO DO THE BEST JOB I AM CAPABLE OF DOING. GUESSING WHAT THE WX IS OR NOT HAVING TRUST IN MY EQUIP THAT IS 'SUPPOSED' TO MAKE MY JOB EASIER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

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.