Controller reports ASOS WX data is not accurate and not updated by contract WX observer as required.

Attributes
ACN	446683
Time
Date	199908
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : agc.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar controller : non radar
Experience	controller non radar : 9 controller radar : 6
ASRS Report	446683
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA ATC Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ASOS has been operational since feb/99. The 'contract WX observers' do not properly augment the observations. Tower visibility is a 'bare' 3 mi, yet ASOS is calling it 5 mi and observer insists that a special is not warranted. I have a known visibility marked that indicates one value and the observer, who will not look out the window. He wants to trust an unreliable machine. Bottom line: safety is compromised because the observer won't do his job properly and the information provided to pilots via ASOS and the automated phone-in is inaccurate!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR RPTS ASOS WX DATA IS NOT ACCURATE AND NOT UPDATED BY CONTRACT WX OBSERVER AS REQUIRED.

Narrative: ASOS HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL SINCE FEB/99. THE 'CONTRACT WX OBSERVERS' DO NOT PROPERLY AUGMENT THE OBSERVATIONS. TWR VISIBILITY IS A 'BARE' 3 MI, YET ASOS IS CALLING IT 5 MI AND OBSERVER INSISTS THAT A SPECIAL IS NOT WARRANTED. I HAVE A KNOWN VISIBILITY MARKED THAT INDICATES ONE VALUE AND THE OBSERVER, WHO WILL NOT LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. HE WANTS TO TRUST AN UNRELIABLE MACHINE. BOTTOM LINE: SAFETY IS COMPROMISED BECAUSE THE OBSERVER WON'T DO HIS JOB PROPERLY AND THE INFO PROVIDED TO PLTS VIA ASOS AND THE AUTOMATED PHONE-IN IS INACCURATE!

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.